BETTY’S BAY, HERMANUS and BALLITO:At 21h26, Saturday, 18 July, NSRI Kleinmond duty crew were activated following eye-witness reports of a red distress flare sighted off-shore of Stoney Point, Betty’s Bay.Telkom Maritime Radio Services contacted a local fishing vessel that was in the area at the time requesting her crew to keep a look-out, NSRI Coastwatchers were alerted to look-out and NSRI Kleinmond crew responded to Stoney Point to investigate.No further red distress flares were sighted and there remains no report of any vessels, craft or person’s missing or overdue and the reasons for the red distress flare activation remains unknown.At around the same time NSRI Hermanus investigated eye-witness reports of a white illumination flare sighted off-shore of the old Hermanus harbour.A former NSRI Hermanus crew member who had also sighted the white illuminating flare called in to confirm the sighting.NSRI coast watchers remained vigilant and after no further flares were sighted no action was taken and the reasons for the white illuminating flare activation remains unknown.Earlier, at 18h39, NSRI Ballito duty crew investigated reports of a red distress flare activation sighted off-shore between Blythedale and Zinkwazi.Blythedale, Zinkwazi and Tinley ski-boat club safety officers confirmed that all of their commercial and private craft were safe back at their clubs and accounted for and NSRI coast watchers remained vigilant.No further red distress flares were sighted and there remains no report of any vessels, craft or person’s missing or overdue and the reasons for the red distress flare activation remains unknown.While investigating the flares between Blythedale and Zinkwazi NSRI Ballito crew came across a vehicle with 3 local men stuck on the beach below the high tide mark during the incoming tide and the NSRI sea rescue vehicle was used to winch their vehicle to safety and they needed no further assistance.NSRI are appealing to the public not to set off flares except in an emergency.
