NSRI Hout Bay Recovers Runaway Racing Buoy in Gale Force Winds

National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) Hout Bay volunteer crew recovered a Hout Bay Yacht Club (HBYC) racing buoy at sea on Saturday, 5 September, after it broke free from its mooring and was swept out into Hout Bay in gale force south easterly winds, in excess of 60 knots. The rescue craft Albie Matthews pursued the buoy beyond Duiker Island before towing it safely back to the yacht club

Spencer Oldham, NSRI Hout Bay station commander, said:

At 09h47 on Saturday, 5 September, NSRI Hout Bay duty crew, while at the NSRI Hout Bay station eight rescue base conducting routine training, launched the NSRI rescue craft Albie Matthews after noticing the HBYC racing buoy, the Tintswalo buoy, break free from her mooring at HBYC. The buoy was being swept out to sea across Hout Bay in the gale force winds.

HBYC were notified.

The NSRI rescue vehicle was dispatched to the top of Chapman's Peak Drive to get visuals of the buoy while Albie Matthews commenced a search in the bay.

The buoy was spotted being blown in the direction of Duiker Island, and Albie Matthews diverted in hot pursuit.

Albie Matthews reached the buoy in the vicinity of Dungeons, beyond Duiker Island, where the buoy was recovered and a towline secured.

The racing buoy was towed back to HBYC and secured at her moorings. No further assistance was required.