Yacht in Difficulty off Atlantic Seaboard

On Monday 1 March at 18h08 NSRI Kommetjie, NSRI Hout Bay, NSRI Bakoven and the Metro Red Cross AMS helicopter were activated following reports of a small yacht being swept out to sea between Kommetjie and Hout Bay and appearing to be in difficulty in gusting 45 knot winds.

During the search the Metro Red Cross AMS helicopter located the yacht 5 nautical miles off-shore of Llandudno but they were under motor power and heading towards Port in Cape Town.

Ian Ruthven, NSRI Hout Bay duty coxswain, said that their progress was monitored until they were safe in port.

It is believed they sustained motor failure to their small yacht but were swept off-shore in the strong gusting winds before managing to get their motors started.