PORT ELIZABETH:Ian Gray, NSRI Port Elizabeth station commander, said:At 13h11 on Sunday the 26th of February, we received a call from Mrs Meier reporting that Wian Meier, 21, and Ewald Meier, 53, (her husband and her son), from Port Elizabeth, who had gone fishing on 2 kayaks at 10h30, launching at Hobie Beach, Port Elizabeth were in trouble in the vicinity off-shore of Hobie Beach.It appears, according to their report, that at about 12h30, while paddling and fishing, Ewald had realised that his sea-kayak was taking on water (later found to be the water bung had been lost from unknown causes).His kayak foundered in the water and he ended up in the water.Wian phoned his mom to raise the alarm and his mom alerted sea rescue.Our NSRI Port Elizabeth duty crew launched the sea rescue craft Eikos Rescuer IV.The yacht Odalisque, skippered by owner Roger Cadey, with 3 crew on board (one of which was our off duty NSRI Station 6 radio operator Hiedren Wasserman). The yacht happened to be in the vicinity at the time and they spotted a kayak that seemed to be in difficulty - as they changed direction to sail closer to investigate they then spotted a paddle waving (indicating that the people at the kayak were signalling for help) - they sailed close to the kayaks making a pass and they threw their “Man Overboard” (MOB) life ring and were able to rescue Ewald onto their yacht. They then made a second pass and took Wian onboard their yacht.Both father and son had been in the water for about 30 minutes close to the Bell Buoy nearly 1 nautical mile out to sea.Our sea rescue craft arrived on the scene and picked up the two kayaks.Both casualties had initially elected to stay on yacht where the dad was given a jacket by yacht crew to help him to rewarm.Our sea rescue craft took their paddle boards back to shore but we were re-called to the yacht after it was found that Ewald was suffering from hypothermia and we took both casualties off the yacht and brought them to our sea rescue base where they were reunited with family while we rewarmed them and after rewarming they required no further assistance.We have commended the skipper and his crew on the yacht Odalisque for assisting.
TABLE BAY:Pat van Eyssen, NSRI Table Bay duty coxswain, said:At 19h01 on Sunday the 26th of February, NSRI Melkbosstrand were activated following reports of a yacht with 5 crew on board reporting to be taking water while sailing from Mykonos to Cape Town and currently off Bloubergstrand.A sea rescue craft was launched where on arriving on the scene they found the yacht Sky, who had earlier been involved in an incident at Mykonos where she had been beached near to the harbour, and it is suspected that the earlier beaching may have rendered some keel damage and the skipper suspected the yacht to be taking water.The NSRI Melkbosstrand sea rescue craft remained on the scene while NSRI Table Bay duty crew were activated and we launched the sea rescue craft Spirit of Vodacom and on arrival on the scene we towed the yacht into Murray Bay Harbour at Robben Island where she was safely berthed and the owner will make arrangements to effect repairs on Monday. The skipper stayed with the yacht overnight.The remaining 4 crew returned to Cape Town aboard our sea rescue craft Spirit of Vodacom.
TO REPORT A SEA RESCUE EMERGENCY DIAL 112 FROM A CELLPHONE
