Categories: Report

NSRI News: Gordon’s Bay and Hermanus Incidents

NSRI News: Gordon’s Bay and Hermanus Incidents

NSRI News: Gordon’s Bay and Hermanus Incidents

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NSRI – STATION 9, Gordons Bay. STATION 17, Hermanus. STATION 19, Richards Bay.

NSRI – National – Monday, 28 July. Incidents – Gordons Bay, Hermanus, Richards Bay:

NATIONAL:

In 4 operations – A fishing craft, with 5 local fishermen onboard, was saved from sinking by NSRI Gordons Bay, offshore of Strand – A sailing yacht, with 2 crew onboard, was assisted by NSRI Gordons Bay after stranding on a sand bank near to Gordons Bay Harbour – A kite boarder, assisted by a Good Samaritan on a kayak on the Klein River Lagoon, were assisted ashore by NSRI Hermanus – and A sailing yacht, drifting shorewards with 7 crew onboard, was safely towed by NSRI Richards Bay to the Zululand Yacht Club in heavy sea conditions.

The swift response and cooperation of all involved in these operations is commended.

GORDONS BAY:

Brian Gosling, NSRI Gordons Bay duty coxswain, said:

At 09h30, Sunday, 27 July, NSRI Gordons Bay duty crew were activated following a request for assistance made to NSRI EOC (Emergency Operations Centre) from a local fishing craft reporting motor mechanical failure offshore approximately 3 nautical miles from Gordons Bay Harbour, 2 nautical miles offshore of Strand, with 5 crew onboard.

Our duty crew responded to our NSRI Gordons Bay station 9 rescue base to prepare to launch the NSRI rescue craft Spirit of Surfski.

While responding to our NSRI rescue base the fishermen reported that their craft was now taking on water from unknown causes and was at risk of sinking.

NSRI Simons Town were placed on alert to respond to assist if necessary.

NSRI Simons Town crew, at the NSRI Simons Town station 10 rescue base at the time, conducting routine training, readied the NSRI Simons Town rescue craft Donna Nicholas to respond to assist if it became necessary.

The NSRI Gordons Bay rescue craft Spirit of Surfski launched, accompanied with a water extrication pump.

With our NSRI rescue craft was nearing their location the casualty fishing crew deployed an orange distress smoke flare that aided us finding them swiftly.

We rendezvoused with the casualty vessel finding all 5 fishermen concerned but safe, all in good spirits and secured into their life-jackets, and appearing to be obviously relieved to have NSRI at their side.

3 of the fishermen were transferred onto our NSRI rescue craft and the remaining 2 fishermen, the skipper and a crewman, remained on their casualty craft assisting our NSRI crew to establish a towline.

While towing the casualty craft towards Gordons Bay Harbour the ingress of water that had accumulated onboard started to drain naturally preventing any further signs of sinking.

We towed the casualty craft to Gordons Bay Harbour, on reaching the harbour rafting our rescue craft alongside, successfully bringing their casualty craft into the harbour to the slipway where we assisted to recover the casualty craft onto their trailer and no further assistance was required.

NSRI Simons Town were notified that the rescue operation was successful and they resumed routine training exercises.

The operation was completed at 12h16.

GORDONS BAY:

Ryan Holmes, NSRI Gordons Bay station commander, said:

On Friday, 25 July, in the early hours of the morning, NSRI Gordons Bay crew had noticed a sailing yacht offshore of Gordons Bay Harbour that later, as daylight broke, appeared to be attempting to enter the harbour.

Just offshore of the SA Naval College they grounded in shallow surf and the alarm was raised.

At 07h55, our duty crew responded to our NSRI Gordons Bay station 9 rescue base and launched the NSRI rescue craft Rescue 9 Charlie, accompanied by an extra anchor.

On arrival on the scene we assisted the 2 sailors to secure their sailing yacht using their anchor and using the extra anchor that we had brought along.

Once their sailing yacht safely secured the 2 sailors stayed onboard their yacht while we returned to base at around 11h00, and later, at high tide, at around 12h51, we launched the rescue craft, Spirit of Surfski, and in the high tide attempts were made to get their yacht into Gordons Bay Harbour.

It appears that from the grounding of their sailing yacht their rudder had sustained damage disabling their ability to navigate.

Using our rescue craft we rigged a towline, NSRI crew were deployed onto their sailing yacht to assist, and we towed them into Gordons Bay Harbour mooring them at our NSRI rescue base where they will attend to repairs.

The operation was completed at 15h09.

HERMANUS:

James van Rensburg, NSRI Hermanus deputy station commander, said:

At 15h10, Friday, 25 July, NSRI Hermanus duty crew were activated following eyewitness reports of a kite-boarder appearing to be in difficulties on the Klein River Lagoon.

It appeared that the kite-boarder was drifting, unable to get her kite airborne.

Our duty crew responded to our NSRI Hermanus station 17 rescue base and dispatched our rescue vehicle, towing our NSRI craft Rescue 17 Bravo, while NSRI rescue swimmers responded to the scene.

A man, a Good Samaritan on a holiday from Plattekloof to Hermanus, on his kayak, had paddled out to assist the 54 year old female.

On arrival on the scene our rescue craft was launched and assisted the kite-boarder and the Good Samaritan, with his kayak, back to shore without incident and no further assistance was required.

The Good Samaritan that assisted, who, with his wife, were also the eyewitnesses that raised the alarm and remained in contact with NSRI while we were responding, giving regular updated information, are commended for their assistance.

RICHARDS BAY:

Norman Rautenbach, NSRI Richards Bay station commander, said:

At 23h36, Friday, 25 July, NSRI EOC (Emergency Operations Centre) and NSRI Richards Bay were alerted to reports, from OSASA (Ocean Sailing Association of South Africa) and from the Commodore of the Zululand Yacht Club of a sailing yacht in difficulties North of Richards Bay.

It appears that the local sailing yacht, with 7 crew onboard, had departed Richards Bay 2 weeks ago heading Northwards when they experienced motor mechanical failure and they had turned around, returning towards Richards Bay, but nearing Richards Bay, against strong South Westerly winds, gusting in excess of 15 knots and in 3 to 4 meter rough sea swells, they requested assistance 15 nautical miles North of Richards Bay – about 4 nautical miles offshore of the lighthouse.

Our duty crew responded to our NSRI Richards Bay station 19 rescue base where the NSRI rescue craft Ocean Guardian was launched.

On arrival on the scene a towline was rigged and we towed them into the Port of Richards Bay to a safe berth at the Zululand Yacht Club and they required no further assistance.

The operation completed at 03h38.

-ENDS-

About the NSRI:
The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) is a registered non-profit organisation that is committed to drowning prevention and focused on saving lives, changing lives and creating futures for those threatened by drowning in South Africa.
We are unique in South Africa as the only non-profit organisation focusing exclusively on safeguarding lives and livelihoods in South African waters through education, prevention, and rescue operations. We envision a nation where drowning incidents are minimised, ensuring the safety of all.
The NSRI strives to innovate, constantly evolve, and extend our water safety initiatives through empowerment and visibility. Our volunteers are on call 24/7 and are reliant on donations and sponsorships.

Please visit www.nsri.org.za for more information.
NSRI EMERGENCY: 087 094 9774

RELEASED BY

Craig Lambinon
NSRI COMMUNICATIONS

Email: communications@searescue.org.za | Cell: +27 (0) 82 380 3800 | nsri.org.za

Sardines and Sighting Maps

Follow the 2025 Sardine Run Map!

You can also download our app to your phone or device, accept notifications, and you will never miss a single sardine.

Last year we started to log more whale and dolphin sightings. And we even had a shipwreck! This year we have had two sailboat incidents already. PLUS, we have already logged some sardines! And a UFO!

Here are the links to existing and past Sardine Sighting Maps…

2025 Sardine Map

2024 Sardine Map

2023 Sardine Map

2022 Sardine Map

2021 Sardine Map

Channels

Brucifire Surf Retorts – highly entertaining  surf reporting

Master Watermen – news from way down deep

The Sardine News – neva miss a single  sardine

FishBazaruto – 1000 pounds plus

MYDO Tackle Talk – highly technical  sport fishing

Surf Launching Southern Africa – getting out there safely

Water Woes – complain about your municipality here

Websites

umzimkulu.co.za – self-catering right on the Umzimkulu River
umzimkuluadrenalin.co.za –  will get you right out and onto the edge
thesardine.co.za – never miss a single sardine
masterwatermen.co.za – news from under water
fishbazaruto.com – dreams
brucifire.co.za – surf retorts

Sean Lange

Anarchist random.

Share
Published by
Sean Lange
Tags: hermanusnsri

Recent Posts

Shad Report by The Sardine News

Shad Report by The Sardine News Shad Report by The Sardine News: from the lower…

23 hours ago

SARDINES: Stuck in the Middle With You

SARDINES: Stuck in the Middle With You SARDINES: Stuck in the Middle With You -…

3 days ago

Flat Day Fun in Bazaruto

Flat Day Fun in Bazaruto Flat Day Fun in Bazaruto: As the sardine season slowly…

1 week ago

NSRI Marks World Drowning Prevention Day

NSRI Marks World Drowning Prevention Day NSRI Marks World Drowning Prevention Day: Anyone can drown;…

1 week ago

Shad Run vs Sardine Run

Shad Run vs Sardine Run Shad Run vs. Sardine Run: The clear lack of shad…

2 weeks ago

Sardine Run 2025 July Update

Sardine Run 2025 July Update Sardine Run 2025 July Update: Welcome back to The Sardine…

3 weeks ago

This website uses cookies.