NSRI Richards Bay assist British and New Zealand yachts in two call-outs.

NSRI Richards Bay volunteer crew assisted two foreign sailing yachts over Sunday and Monday. A British couple needed help getting their yacht across a shallow channel to the Zululand Yacht Club in strong winds, and a New Zealand couple were towed to safe moorings after their yacht’s motor failed in the harbour channel. Both crews and their yachts reached safety without incident.

Norman Rautenbach, NSRI Richards Bay station commander, said:

“At 14h48 on Sunday 11 October, our NSRI Richards Bay duty crew were activated following a request for assistance from a British couple, a husband and wife, who needed to make best use of the spring high tide to get their sailing yacht across the normally shallow channel from the small craft harbour to moorings at the Zululand Yacht Club.

“In strong north-easterly winds, they requested the NSRI’s assistance to make safe passage across the channel.

“Our rescue craft Ocean Guardian was launched. On arrival, we rafted alongside the sailing yacht and assisted her into the channel and into deeper water. The couple then made their way safely to the yacht club, where they moored without incident, and no further assistance was required.

“Then at 01h38 on Monday 12 October, our duty crew were activated again, following a request for assistance from a New Zealand couple, a husband and wife, on a sailing yacht. They had earlier reported that her motor was having problems starting.

“On arrival in the harbour channel at the Port of Richards Bay, the motor failed to start, and they requested help. We asked them to drop anchor and await the arrival of our rescue craft.

“Ocean Guardian was launched and, on arrival on the scene, we towed the sailing yacht to safe moorings at the International Quay without incident. No further assistance was required.”