NSRI Table Bay duty controllers have been monitoring a sailing yacht from Brazil to Cape Town for the past week, which reportedly sustained mast damage during a storm.
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The four Brazilian male crew members reported that they were sailing towards Cape Town using a combination of motor power and a jury rig (temporary makeshift rig).
They confirmed that there were no injuries and that they were continuing on their journey with no immediate assistance, but that they might need more fuel once they got closer to Cape Town.
At 4am on Friday, the NSRI Table Bay duty crew launched the NSRI rescue craft DHL Deliverer and met the sailors at 40 nautical miles (from the Port of Table Bay).
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Fuel was transferred to their sailing vessel, and our station commander, Quentin Botha, had packed fresh fruit for them, which they greatly appreciated.
An NSRI rescue craft escorted them for a while before returning to our NSRI station 3 base, arriving at 7:26am.
The casualty sailing yacht made good progress under motor power, arriving at the Port of Table Bay around 10:45am and docking at the V&A Waterfront.
Earlier this week, on Saturday, 23 March at 4:22pm, NSRI Table Bay duty crew were activated in response to reports to the NSRI EOC (Emergency Operations Centre) of a sailing yacht requesting assistance after their vessel’s motor failed.
The NSRI Table Bay duty crew launched the NSRI rescue vessel DHL Deliverer.
We met the vessel and established a towline, then towed them to the Royal Cape Yacht Club, where they were safely moored and no further assistance was required.
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Picture: NSRI