At 13h53, Saturday, 26th March, NSRI Gordons Bay duty crew were activated by the Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) following eye-witness reports of a yacht appearing to be in difficulty in heavy seas close in-shore at Betty’s Bay, between Gordons Bay and Hermanus.
The yacht, heading in the direction of Hermanus was monitored by NSRI Gordons Bay who had responded by road in a sea rescue vehicle to investigate since no call for assistance had come directly from the yacht.
As a precautionary measure NSRI Hermanus launched the sea rescue craft South Star and rendezvoused with the yacht Nina between Kleinmond and Hawston.
The 8 crew onboard, 4 adult men, 3 adult females and a female teenager, confirmed that they were not in difficulty but that they were sailing under a storm sail towards Hermanus where they would shelter from the heavy weather before continuing to Durban where they are entering the Vasco Da Gama Ocean Race from Durban to Port Elizabeth.
NSRI Hermanus escorted them to Hermanus harbour without incident and they set sail on Monday, 28th March, from Hermanus harbour, heading for Durban.
