RESCUE OPERATIONS / 5 OCTOBER 2016

Yacht assisted off Richards Bay

At 09h00, Wednesday, 05th October, NSRI Richards Bay duty crew were activated by the Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) following a request for assistance from the 38 foot Swedish yacht Marieke III, with a Swedish husband and wife onboard, a 71 year old male and a 70 year old female, reporting gear box mechanical failure 12 nautical miles off-shore of Richards Bay.The couple set sail from Richards Bay Port this morning on a voyage to Durban when gear box mechanical failure in heavy seas forced them to turn around and head back towards Richards Bay and request assistance from the Richards Bay Port authority.The sea rescue craft Spirit of Richards Bay II was launched into 6 to 8 meter swells and a 20 knot South Westerly wind and we rendezvoused with the yacht 8 nautical miles off-shore.The yacht was taken under tow and towed to the Port of Richards Bay without incident and safely moored at the Zululand Yacht Club where they will make repairs to the gear box before setting continuing on their voyage to Durban.Photograph by NSRI Richards Bay.

TO REPORT A SEA RESCUE EMERGENCY DIAL 112 FROM A CELLPHONE