RICHARDS BAY – Yacht assisted:

At 11h31 (Tuesday, 15th October) NSRI Richards Bay volunteer sea rescue duty crew were activated following a request for assistance from the yacht EURONA, sailing from Durban to Richards Bay, 5 nautical miles off-shore of Port Durnford, near Mtunzini, and suffering motor failure and not making headway in gusting 40 knot North Easterly winds with a male and three females onboard.Cornel du Toit, NSRI Richards Bay station commander, said: 'Our NSRI Richards Bay volunteer sea rescue duty crew launched SPIRIT OF RICHARDS BAY and rendezvoused with the yacht 15 nautical miles South of Richards Bay and found the crew to be exhausted but safe. It appears that they had been struggling to make headway in rough seas and strong gusting winds since the early hours of this morning before finally succumbing to requesting assistance.'A tow-line was rigged from our sea rescue craft and making slow progress, in short choppy 2 to 3 meter swells, they were towed to the Port of Richards Bay without incident arriving at 18h00.'Their yacht has been safely berthed and they required no further assistance.'Pictures for media use are available on Sea Rescue's Flickr page. Richards Bay duty crew were activated following a request for assistance from the yacht EURONA, sailing from Durban to Richards Bay. Picture Brynn Gericke. Spirit of Richards Bay and the yacht EURONA. Picture Brynn Gericke. Spirit of Richards Bay and EURONA. Picture Brynn Gericke. The yacht EURONA safely in Richards Bay. Picture Brynn Gericke.