Samantha runs aground

At 15h30 (Wednesday, 23 October) NSRI Hout Bay duty crew were activated by the Transnet National Ports Authority following reports of a yacht run aground on Hout Bay Beach with one adult male solo sailor onboard.Our crew launched NADINE GORDIMER and ALBIE MATTHEWS and our sea rescue vehicle responded.We found the yacht hard aground on the beach in strong gusting onshore winds and the single occupant, a Hout Bay local, safe and not injured on his local yacht SAMANTHA.The local charter boat DRUMBEAT had tried to pull the yacht off the beach without success.At high tide our sea rescue craft rigged towlines and we pulled the yacht off the beach and brought her to safe moorings in Hout Bay harbour where no further assistance was required.Strong winds had forced the yacht to drift onto the beach after departing from Hout Bay harbour.