SIMON'S TOWN:Darren Zimmerman, NSRI Simon's Town station commander, said:At 18h08, Sunday, 14 March, NSRI Simon's Town duty crew were activated following reports from the Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) and from eye-witnesses of surfskiers appearing to be in difficulty off-shore of Simon's Town.At the same time an NSRI RSA SafeTrx emergency activation was received by NSRI EOC (Emergency Operations Centre) and a phone call was then received by NSRI EOC from the same phone that was sending the emergency.3 Men, 2 from Sea Point and 1 from Fish Hoek, were paddling on a downwind paddle between Millers Point and Fish Hoek, 2 on a double surf-ski and 1 on a single surf-ski.The single surfski, with a 29 year old Sea Point man onboard, capsized and the velcro around his leg that attaches a leash to the surf-ski came loose causing the surfski to drift away from them in the wind.At the same time his 2 friends on the double surf-ski also capsized preventing them from grabbing the single surf-ski that was swept past them in the wind.They were near to Roman Rock at the time and drifting towards Glen Beach.All 3 men clung to the double surf-ski (for floatation) and they activated an emergency alert on their NSRI RSA SafeTrx cellphone app and they also called the NSRI emergency number to raise the alarm.At the same time eye-witnesses on shore had witnessed the incident and they were also calling NSRI to raise the alarm.NSRI Simon's Town duty crew responded to the NSRI sea rescue station in Simon's Town and launched the sea rescue craft Spirit of Surfski II.Because of fading light additional NSRI crew prepared the sea rescue craft Spirit of Safmarine III to be launched.An NSRI rescue vehicle responded to the road side to get a visual of the casualties.The sea rescue craft arrived on the scene 1 nautical mile North of Roman Rock lighthouse.The man from the single surf-ski was rescued onto our sea rescue craft.The 2 men from the double surf-ski were able to re-board their craft and they continued on their paddle to Fish Hoek Beach and they got to their destination without further incident.CMR (Cape Medical Response) were activated as a precaution but the casualty was not injured and no medical care was required.Once safely ashore NSRI were transporting the casualty by road to his vehicle in Fish Hoek when local Glencairn Neighbourhood Watch called NSRI to alert us of a surf-ski washing ashore at Glencairn.The surf-ski, belonging to the casualty, was recovered and found to not be damaged and no further assistance was required.NSRI commend the 3 men for staying calm, activating their NSRI RSA SafeTrx emergency and for staying with their floating craft until NSRI arrived on the scene.
GORDONS BAY:Alan Meiklejohn, NSRI Gordons Bay station commander, said:At 12h09, Sunday, 14 March, NSRI Gordons Bay duty crew were activated following reports of a Hobie-Cat capsized at the Harbour Island harbour entrance with 2 male crew onboard.The sea rescue craft Spirit of Surfski was launched and NSRI rescue crew responded directly to the scene.On arrival on the scene a Hobie-Cat was found capsized and drifting against the harbour wall with 2 men in the water and they were attempting to right their craft.A private RHIB (rigid hull inflatable boat) came to their assistance and took the Hobie-Cat under tow.Our NSRI rescue craft arrived on the scene and the casualty Hobie-Cat was righted and towed to Gordons Bay harbour where it was recovered.A second Hobie-Cat was assisted from a mooring inside Gordons Bay harbour to the harbour slipway where it was later recovered onto a trailer.It appears that 2 Hobie-Cats had sailed from Fish Hoek to Gordons Bay the day before and the 4 men, 2 on each Hobie-Cat overnighted and they were then planning to sail back to Fish Hoek on Sunday but the Hobie-Cat capsized in strong winds and they opted to instead collect the Hobie-Cats in Gordons Bay by road.
