Tuesday, 07th January, NSRI Mykonos launched sea rescue craft to rendezvous
with yacht AVA off-shore of Saldanha Bay. A tow line was rigged and Yacht AVA
and her crew were brought safely into Port at Saldanha Bay under the tow of the
NSRI Mykonos sea rescue craft.
Two crew that had minor injuries were assisted by NSRI paramedics but all
are safe and well.
Tuesday, 07th January, NSRI Table Bay launched sea rescue craft to
rendezvous, off-shore of Cape Town, with yacht ISLA, that was under the tow of
SMIT MADURA, NSRI Table Bay took over the tow bringing the yacht safely into
Table Bay Port.
SMIT MADURA are commended for the rescue mission they successfully carried
out on yacht ISLA.
NSRI Hout Bay will launch sea rescue craft later today, 08th January, to
rendezvous with the bulk carrier JS YANGTSE, off-shore of Mouille Point, to take
over the 2 French crew members who abandoned their yacht IDEFIX 2 at sea and
they will be brought into Port of Table Bay.
The Department of International Relations and Cooperation, Customs and
Immigration officials, the French Consulate will all be on hand to receive the
two French IDEFIX 2 survivors.
IDEFIX 2, not part of the Cape to Rio race, was caught up in the same storm
as the Cape to Rio yachts and landed up being adrift at sea, unable to sail or
motor, some 216 nautical miles off-shore of Cape Town.
The bulk carrier JS YANGTSE, the nearest ship at the time, agreed to
rendezvous with IDEFIX 2 on the request of MRCC (Maritime Rescue Coordination
Centre) but by the time she arrived at the coordinates IDEFIX 2 had drifted away
and could not be found or raised by phone or radio.
JS YANGTSE started an increasing box search plotted by MRCC and despite at
one point being released from the search, then after MRCC Reunion established
contact with the yacht JS YANGTSE eventually found IDEFIX 2 and rescued the 2
French sailors.
The Captain and crew of JS YANGTSE are commended for their efforts.
NSRI CEO Dr. Cleeve Robertson has commended all who took part in the major
rescue operation on the South West Atlantic Ocean over the past few days.
Craig Lambinon
Sea Rescue Communications
