Schalk Boonzaaier, NSRI Kleinmond station commander, said:At 13h38, Sunday, 31 May, NSRI Kleinmond duty crew were activated following a request for assistance from the owner of a Kreef Bakkie (small open fishing boat) reporting that he was not on the boat himself but that his 4 crew onboard, all local adult fishermen, had a full catch onboard and the boat was suffering engine failure to one of their two outboard motors.They were off-shore of Stony Point, Betty’s Bay, making slow progress towards Kleinmond harbour on only one motor and heavy laden in the water.An NSRI shore crew responded towards the scene and our sea rescue craft Jaytee 3 was launched.On arrival on the scene we took 3 of the 4 crew off the casualty boat, the skipper stayed onboard, and an NSRI rescue swimmer was transferred onto the casualty boat to join the skipper.Those 3 fishermen were brought to Kleinmond harbour aboard our sea rescue craft and once they were safely ashore our sea rescue craft returned to the casualty boat.We then took the fishing catch and most of their fishing equipment off the casualty boatWe arranged for the skipper and our rescue swimmer to set up a towline as a precaution in case it became necessary.The casualty boat was still making slow progress.At that stage we left them to take the fishing catch and their fishing equipment ashore, aboard our sea rescue craft, and once we had delivered that to the harbour our sea rescue craft returned to rendezvous with the casualty boat.The towline that was set up earlier remained in place and at the ready to be used if required.Our sea rescue craft escorted the casualty boat towards Kleinmond with the skipper and our NSRI rescue swimmer remaining onboard.Once closer to the harbour we stopped off-shore of Kleinmond harbour and between ourselves and the skipper we discussed the angle of attack for the casualty boat to go into the harbour on her one motor with our sea rescue craft escorting her.Our rescue crew remained at the ready to transfer the towline if it became necessary.The casualty boat was able to motor into the harbour on her own without incident and once safely recovered and with all of her crew safe and all of their catch and equipment safely ashore no further assistance was required.
