Bay yachties rescued from sinking vessel
A Richards Bay couple and their dog were rescued from their sinking vessel
ZULULAND Yacht Club (ZYC) members Carel and Zelna Lubbe and their pet schnauzer were rescued on Monday by the National Sea Rescue Institute’s (NSRI’s) Durban crew when their vessel began taking in water and sank.
The couple’s vessel, See Brak, got into difficulty shortly after launching from the ZYC in Richards Bay on Sunday.
They reportedly drifted without motor power under a make-shift sail before setting off distress flares at about 2pm on Monday to attract the attention from a passing ship.
NSRI Durban Station Commander Clifford Ireland said at 5.40pm the Durban NSRI was alerted by the Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) following a request for assistance from the motor vessel Kishore, who diverted from its voyage to investigate after spotting red distress flares.
They found the couple and their dog on the See Brak which had no motor or electrical power. The main sails were also damaged.
The NSRI team launched the sea rescue craft Eikos Rescuer II and they arrived on the scene just before 11pm. A tow line was rigged and the yacht was towed towards Durban’s Port in rough sea conditions.
Attempts were made to place water extrication pumps onto the yacht, but shortly thereafter the Lubbes had to abandon their vessel and was taken aboard by the rescue crew as their yacht sank.
