Yacht sinks despite gallant effort to save her:

Picture: Judy van Zyl

On Tuesday 16 April at 19:22 Mykonos volunteer sea rescue crew were called out by the Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) following reports that an unmanned yacht had broken away from its swing mooring at Saldanha Bay Yacht Club and was drifting towards the Small Craft Harbour.

The duty crew towed their sea rescue craft Gemini Rescuer II to the Small Craft Harbour where they were met by members from Saldanha Bay Yacht Club, TNPA Saldanha Bay, South African Paramedic Services, Yachtport SA (who provided safe mooring) and Project Maritime Group all of whom assisted in the operation.TNPA provided one of their Pilot Vessels which was used to pull the Yacht free, from where she had washed up against the break water. The weather conditions, location of the yacht and the fact that she had taken on water, made it impossible for the rescue boat to free her alone. While NSRI deployed a swimmer from the shore onto the stricken yacht, the sea rescue boat was launched from Saldanha Bay Yacht Club and assisted the TNPA Pilot boat by ferrying the tow lines.At 21h40, on the Pilot vessels second attempt to pull the yacht off rocks, she was freed and was taken under tow by the Pilot Vessel into the shelter of the small Craft Harbour where the tow of the yacht was handed over to the NSRI. The yacht was berthed at the refuelling jetty at Yachtport SA at 22:00.Unfortunately, due to the extensive damage, the yacht Kalimba, sank whilst alongside the jetty. Currently a team of divers, along with the team at Yachtport SA, are attempting to refloat her and get her onto the travel lift to be taken out the water.No one was on the yacht during the incident and there were no injuries. Picture: Judy van Zyl Picture: Judy van Zyl