NSRI Durban tows French yacht into port ahead of South Westerly buster

With a strong South Westerly buster forecast and heavy weather closing in, NSRI Durban crew towed a 14-meter French sailing yacht into the Port of Durban on Tuesday, 6 October, bringing a French couple safely alongside before conditions deteriorated.

At approximately 10h00 on Tuesday, 6 October, NSRI Durban Station 5 was alerted following a request for assistance from the director of the Ocean Sailing Association of Southern Africa (OSASA), reporting a 14-meter sailing yacht inbound towards Durban with a French couple onboard. The yacht was reportedly suffering a failure of her mobile keel, raising concerns about her ability to enter the Port of Durban safely.

Of particular concern was the yacht's estimated time of arrival, which coincided with a forecast strong South Westerly buster expected to affect the Durban area later in the day. The South African Weather Service (SAWS) had also issued a Level 2 weather warning for strong winds and lightning.

NSRI Durban duty controllers, together with OSASA, monitored the yacht's progress throughout the day and kept the developing weather conditions under assessment.

Just after 16h00, the duty crew were activated to attend at the NSRI Durban Station 5 rescue base. At approximately 16h40, the rescue craft Alick Rennie and Spirit of Surfski 6 were launched to intercept and assess the yacht at sea.

The crews rendezvoused with the yacht approximately 12 nautical miles offshore of Durban. At the time, she was making good progress under her own sail power and was not in any immediate danger. Sea conditions were approximately 1.8-to-2-meter swells. The rescue craft escorted the yacht towards Durban, continuing to monitor her and the weather.

Approximately 4 nautical miles offshore of the Port of Durban, the wind dropped significantly. With the South Westerly buster imminent, and commercial vessel traffic into the Port increasing, the decision was made to establish a tow line from Alick Rennie to the yacht and tow her into port. This was done to bring her in safely before the deteriorating weather reached the harbour entrance.

As the rescue craft and yacht entered the port, the buster arrived, bringing heavy rain and winds of approximately 20 to 35 knots. Despite the challenging conditions, Alick Rennie successfully towed the yacht into port.

The yacht was safely brought alongside and then placed on her designated moorings at the Durban Marina, with the assistance of NSRI Station 5 shore crew and members of OSASA.

NSRI Durban station commander Etienne van Zyl said the French couple and their yacht were safely assisted into the harbour and the operation concluded without incident.