NSRI Mykonos Assists Two Unmanned Vessels

At 05h42 on Wednesday, 1 January, NSRI Mykonos duty crew were activated following reports from a local fishing charter boat of an unmanned sailing dinghy adrift on Langebaan Lagoon, off Calypso Beach.

Craig McIver, NSRI Mykonos Deputy Station Commander, said:

The NSRI rescue craft Rotarian Burnette was launched and located the five-metre sailing vessel adrift on the water, unmanned, approximately half a nautical mile from shore.

A towline was established, and the vessel was towed to Mykonos Marina.

Following investigations, the owner was located and confirmed that the boat had broken her moorings at Plaaltjies earlier. Arrangements were made for the owner to collect his vessel.

The fishing charter boat skipper and crew are commended for raising the alarm.

Later, at 10h12, NSRI Mykonos were requested to assist in locating a 21-foot sailing vessel that was off her moorings and reported missing.

At 10h55, NSRI Mykonos received a call from a member of the public who identified the missing vessel and reported that she was aground at Blue Lagoon Beach, Saldanha Bay.

The NSRI rescue craft Spirit of Vodacom, Rotarian Burnette, and Hansie responded. Upon arrival, the vessel was refloated, a towline was established, and it was towed to Mykonos Marina.

At the marina, the NSRI rescue craft, Hansie, assisted the owner in recovering the vessel onto her trailer; no further assistance was required.

It was confirmed that the vessel had broken her moorings earlier.