Brad Geyser, NSRI Hout Bay station commander, said; “At 18h55 on Monday 16 January, NSRI Hout Bay volunteer sea rescue duty crew were activated by the Transnet National Ports Authority following a request for assistance from the San Diego, USA, solo yachtsman Bob Loana, aboard his yacht AKUIDO. Loana reported that his yacht had sustained a split mainsail, his yacht’s engine was not coping and doing nothing against the angry sea conditions and that his yacht was being blown sideways whilst struggling in a wild sea with gale force South Easterly winds gusting to more than 65 knots. Loana reported his position as 2.5 nautical miles South East of Vulcan Rock and being blown towards Vulcan Rock at serious risk of running onto the Vulcan Rock reef and urgently needing assistance.
“Our NSRI Hout Bay volunteer sea rescue duty crew launched our sea rescue craft MTU NADINE GORDIMER and ALBIE MATTHEWS and on arrival on-scene we found the yacht being blown across the bay like a leaf in the wind bucking and pitching and having covered over 1.5 nautical miles in the 20 minutes it took our sea rescue craft to reach him and he was on a heading with Vulcan Rock directly in her path.
“A tow-line was rigged to the yacht from our sea rescue craft but on three occasions the tow-line snapped and the V-shaped bridle on the sea rescue craft broke twice. A 12mm thick stainless steel safety snap hook bent and snapped and had to be discarded but with slow progress and making only 1 knot, and having to re-attach the tow-line on numerous occasions, and seriously considering ordering the yachtsman to abandon ship on a number of occasions after the yacht came close to running aground during the rescue operation, our NSRI rescuers finally brought the yacht into the safety of Hout Bay harbour at 22h00.
“Bob Loana, who lives on his yacht, was returning to Hout Bay after “having such a good time there in 2003”, he said. Docking first in Durban and then last port of call Mossel Bay he was close to his destination when his mainsail tore in the gale force winds causing the rescue operation to be launched.
“Bob commended the NSRI Hout Bay volunteer sea rescue crew saying that it was the best teamwork and rescue operation he had witnessed in some of the most trying conditions he had ever found himself in.”
10×8 Print, Hout Bay South Africa. Cape Town South Africa 05/07/2010 Fish for sale, Hout Bay Harbour Photo Roger Parker Fotosports International. Chosen by Fotosports. Printed on 254x203mm Fuji Crystal Archive paper for stable image permanence and brilliant colour reproduction with smooth tones, enhanced sharpness, and excellent definition.
