Transkei – Yacht crew rescued at sea:

Cathrine Prentis, NSRI East London station commander, said: At 10h15, Friday, 21 May, NSRI East London duty crew were activated following a request for assistance from yacht Majimoto, that had been relayed by a fellow yachtsman to East London Port Control, reporting the yacht to be taking on water approximately 3 nautical miles off-shore of Cape Morgan, Transkei.Yacht Majimoto was returning to Durban from East London. after taking part in the Vasco da Gama Ocean Race 2021, with 5 Durban crew onboard, 3 men and 2 women.MRCC (Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre) and NSRI EOC (Emergency Operations Centre) were alerted.MRCC activated a South African Air Force (SAAF) 22 Squadron Oryx helicopter and NSRI ASR (Airborne Sea Rescue) to prepare to respond while the NSRI East London sea rescue craft Spirit of Lotto was launched.

Cathrine Prentis, NSRI East London station commander, said: At 10h15, Friday, 21 May, NSRI East London duty crew were activated following a request for assistance from yacht Majimoto, that had been relayed by a fellow yachtsman to East London Port Control, reporting the yacht to be taking on water approximately 3 nautical miles off-shore of Cape Morgan, Transkei.Yacht Majimoto was returning to Durban from East London. after taking part in the Vasco da Gama Ocean Race 2021, with 5 Durban crew onboard, 3 men and 2 women.MRCC (Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre) and NSRI EOC (Emergency Operations Centre) were alerted.MRCC activated a South African Air Force (SAAF) 22 Squadron Oryx helicopter and NSRI ASR (Airborne Sea Rescue) to prepare to respond while the NSRI East London sea rescue craft Spirit of Lotto was launched.Transnet National Ports Authority placed a Port of East London pilot boat on alert.Marine VHF radio communications were assisted by Telkom Maritime Radio Services.EC Government Health EMS were placed on alert.NSRI East London duty controllers and NSRI EOC assisted Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre in the coordination of the rescue operation.On arrival on the scene, 2.5 nautical miles off-shore of Cape Morgan, in 50 knot gusting South Westerly winds and 8 meter swells, it was determined that the yachts rudder had broken off in rough seas and the yacht was adrift, gradually heading towards the shoreline, and unable to navigate.A towline was established from the sea rescue craft but with the yacht having no rudder and her crew unable to establish a temporary rudder efforts to tow the yacht proved impossible in the strong winds and in the big sea swells and the decision was made by the skipper to abandon the yacht.The yacht crew deployed their life raft and under the watchful eye of the NSRI crew on the sea rescue craft the crew abandoned the yacht at sea.All 5 crew and their life raft were recovered onto the sea rescue craft.The Air Force 22 Squadron Oryx helicopter and NSRI ASR crew were stood down.Our sea rescue craft arrived in East London at 19h16 on Friday evening.On arrival at our NSRI East London sea rescue base the casualty crew were met by EC Government Health EMS paramedics but with none of the casualty crew injured no medical assistance was required.On Saturday morning it was learned that sadly yacht Majimoto has run aground North of the Kei River Mouth and the owner is making arrangements to salvage the yacht.[video width='848' height='480' mp4='https://www.nsri.org.za/wp-con...'][/video][video width='848' height='480' mp4='https://www.nsri.org.za/wp-con...'][/video]