Helen Margaret and Canadian Solo Skipper (70) towed

Ian Klopper, NSRI Kommetjie station commander, said:

At 18h45, Monday, 20th February, NSRI Kommetjie duty crew were activated following reports from the local Kommetjie Neighbourhood Watch of a yacht observed very close inshore of Boneyard Reef, Kommetjie.

We made contact with the solo skipper, Ralph Steenstra, 70, from Vancouver, Canada, reporting his last Port of call Port Elizabeth and in the strong winds he had become exhausted and the yacht experiencing intermittent steering problems he requested assistance to get to Hout Bay.

We launched our sea rescue craft Spirit of the Vines and on arrival on the scene in 40 knot gusting winds an NSRI rescue swimmer was put onboard the 43 foot yacht Helen Margaret and the NSRI crewman assisted to motor the yacht a safe distance off-shore escorted the skipper motoring towards Hout Bay escorted by our sea rescue craft and NSRI Hout Bay duty crew were activated and the NSRI Hout Bay sea rescue craft Nadine Gordimer was launched.

Against strong winds the yacht then suffered motor mechanical failure nearing Hout Bay harbour and on her arrival on the scene the NSRI Hout Bay sea rescue craft took up a towline and the NSRI Kommetjie sea rescue craft took up a support line from the stern of the yacht and the yacht was towed safely into Hout Bay harbour and berthed.

No further assistance was required.