Yacht assisted - Jeffreys Bay. Whale humanely euthanised - Jeffreys Bay:

JEFFREYS BAY:Rieghard Janse van Rensburg, NSRI Jeffreys Bay station commander, said:At 14h13, Sunday, 11th August, NSRI Jeffreys Bay duty crew were activated following reports of a yacht dismasted off-shore of Aston Bay, 1.5 nautical miles South of our sea rescue station and 1 nautical mile off-shore, with 4 people onboard and the yacht under her own motor power but facing a head on wind to return to the Port of St Francis at St Francis Bay.NSRI Jeffreys Bay coast watchers were alerted and under observation the yacht appeared to be at threat of gradually drifting towards rocks or drifting ashore in an onshore wind.The sea rescue craft Rescue 37 was launched and on arrival on the scene the 4 crew were found to be safe and the yacht mast had sunk and was not recovered.NSRI St Francis Bay were placed on alert.A towline was rigged from our sea rescue craft and we towed the yacht safely to the Port of St Francis without incident and once safely moored no further assistance was required.Kabeljous Beach:On Monday evening, 12th August, NSRI were alerted to a whale beached at Kabeljous Beach near to Jeffreys Bay.The Marine Animal Stranding Network were alerted and Marine Scientists and Vets were alerted and activated.The 11 meter Humpback whale was found to be in a poor condition and suffering.Marine Animal Stranding Network authorities made the decision to humanely euthanise the whale and on Tuesday morning a police team carried out the humane operation to euthanise the whale under the guidance of marine scientists and vets on the scene.Kouga Municipality solid waste management are arranging the removal of the whale carcass from the beach under the guidance of Kouga Disaster Risk Management.