RICHARDS BAY – Fishing boat capsizes:

At 14h28 on Saturday the 6th of July Richards Bay volunteers were called out following a request for assistance from the Meerensee Boat Club safety officer reporting the 17 foot Ski-boat TIME OUT with 3 local men onboard had capsized 10 nautical miles off Richards Bay. Two boats were reported to be in attendance and all 3 men had been rescued and safe and we launched our sea rescue craft SPIRIT OF RICHARDS BAY and responded to the scene.Cornel du Toit, NSRI Richards Bay station commander, said: 'The boat TIME OUT had capsized while at anchor, 10 miles off-shore, while fishing in the Meerensee Boat Club 21 Species Fishing Competition.'It is reported that while at anchor a wave had swamped the boat and while the 3 men onboard had attempted to cut their anchor chain a second wave capsized their boat landing all 3 men in the water. They retrieved their emergency capsize kit and while hanging onto the upturned hull of their boat they waited until they could physically see another boat in the vicinity before firing off a red distress flare which was spotted by the boats ON FIRE and CAPTAIN FINE (both also taking part in the fishing competition) which then diverted and came to their assistance plucking all three men out of the water.'Sea conditions were 2 to 3 meter choppy sea swells and a 25 knot North Easterly wind.'We believe they had been in the water for about 25 minutes before being rescued.'On our arrival on-scene we found the three men, Leon Vorster, 38, Riaan Steyn, 34, and Gawie Stolz, 37, safe, warm and not injured and on the boat CAPTAIN FINE.'We put NSRI rescue swimmers in the water and despite rope, debris and flotsam in the water around the capsized boat we used our sea rescue craft to right the capsized boat and we took her under tow.'The three men came ashore onboard CAPTAIN FINE and we towed their casualty craft to shore where it was recovered.'The rescue operation was completed by 16h37.'Once safely ashore they required no further assistance.'Pictures only in low resolution are available on Sea Rescue's Flickr page. TIME OUT safe at the Richards Bay NSRI station. Pictures by Dagny Du Toit. Ski-boat TIME OUT is brought alongside at Richards Bay. Picture Dagny Du Toit. Picture Dagny Du Toit.