NSRI appeal to paddlers after a man abandons fishing kayak at sea - Hangklip. New Moon Safety Warning - rip currents:

NSRI are appealing to paddlers, sailboarders and boaters to stencil their name, contact number and the contact number of a responsible friend or family member on their paddle-boards, wind sailing boards and boats.NSRI urge paddlers, sailboarders and boaters to let NSRI know if they abandon their craft at sea leaving their craft adrift at sea.We also urge paddlers, sailboarders and boaters to download the free NSRI RSA SafeTrx cell phone app and use the app when launching to go to sea.Always carry safety equipment and wear your life-jacket properly fastened when launching craft onto water (inland waters or coastal waters).HANGKLIP:At 17h31, Thursday, 21st September, NSRI Hermanus duty crew responded to Hangklip and launched the sea rescue craft Jaytee III following eye-witness reports of a yellow sea-kayak floating unmanned in the surf off-shore of Hangklip.NSRI Hermanus were joined by NSRI Gordons Bay who launched the sea rescue craft Jack & Irene.The AMS/EMS Skymed rescue helicopter was placed on alert.During a search a fishing boat located and recovered the sea-kayak that was found adrift at sea but no markings, names or contact details were on the craft and fearing a paddler missing at sea an extensive search and rescue operation including the 2 sea rescue craft and an extensive shoreline search continued late into the night and with no sign of anyone missing and no reports to any Police stations of anyone reported missing or overdue the search was suspended and details of the craft, a picture of the craft, and a request made to the public on NSRI social media to try to identify the owner from the craft description.On Friday morning NSRI received a call from a Stellenbosch man reporting that the craft belonged to him. He had been changing his clothing on the shoreline following a paddle and the Spring High Tide washed his craft into the sea so he abandoned trying to recover his craft and he went home.NSRI are relieved to hear that the man is safe, said Alan Meiklejohn, NSRI Gordons Bay station commander, and we have appealed to the man to let NSRI know if something like this happens again.NEW MOON SPRING TIDE:The New Moon Spring Tide, which peaked on Wednesday, 20th September, will result in the normal Spring Tide conditions around the coastline for the duration of this weekend.Expect a higher than normal high tide and a lower than normal low tide and stronger than normal rip currents lasting into the early part of next week.NSRI urge the public to be cautious around the coast this weekend due to the New Moon Spring Tide conditions.TO REPORT A SEA RESCUE EMERGENCY DIAL 112 FROM A CELLPHONE