Darren Zimmerman, NSRI Simonstown station commander, said; “At 16h05 on Saturday 21 January, NSRI Simonstown volunteer sea rescue duty crew were activated following reports of a Hobie-Cat capsized and trapped in Kelp near rocks at Clovelly, near Fish Hoek.
“Our NSRI volunteer sea rescue duty crew launched our sea rescue craft and responded and WC Government Health: EMS and Cape Town Fire and Rescue Services responded.
“On arrival on-scene we found a Mr. Hartland, from Oranjezicht, had capsized his Hobie-Cat while sailing solo in False Bay and once capsized he had drifted onto rocks between Clovelly and Kalk Bay harbour.
“Two Kalk Bay residents, Johnathan Gloyd-Jones and his brother Sebastian, (we estimate them to be aged about 16 years old), had donned wet-suits and had swum out to assist Mr. Hartland after noticing that he was in trouble, from their house in Kalk Bay.
“Well known local fisherman George Mandolis, aboard his fishing trawler Kalkie had also launched his boat to assist and George had managed to rig a tow-line onto the Hobie Cat and had pulled the Hobie Cat free from the rocks.
“The two teenagers had assisted George to attach the tow-line.
“Our NSRI rescuers confirmed that no one was injured and George towed the Hobie Cat to Kalk Bay harbour where it was recovered from the water using a Harbour crane and no further assistance was necessary.
Darius van Niekerk, NSRI Mykonos station commander, said; “At 15h12 on Saturday 21 January, NSRI Mykonos volunteer sea rescue duty crew were activated to respond to 400 meters off-shore of Mykonos, at The Cove, where a Hobie-Cat capsized with Capetonians Johan van Staaden, 45, and Genevieve Perks, 35, both from Bloubergstrand, had capsized and were drifting and appearing to eye-witnesses to be unable to right their craft.
“Off-duty NSRI Air Sea Rescue swimmer Rob Fine and an unidentified bystander, who happened to be on the beach at the time, both swam out to assist the sailors after Rob confirmed that NSRI Mykonos had been activated.
“Rob, the bystander and NSRI Mykonos volunteers aboard our sea rescue craft helped the two sailors to right their craft and the two sailors then sailed their boat to Mykonos harbour without further problems.
“Our sea rescue craft monitored their safe passage and Rob and the bystander swam ashore.”
Editors Notes: Maybe they were training for the Hobie 16 Nationals, see: Close Action Sailing Returns to Hobie Beach
