Couple Rescued After Yacht Washes Ashore in Mossel Bay

A Finnish couple was assisted early Tuesday morning after their sailing yacht drifted ashore at Santos Beach, Mossel Bay. Andre Fraser, NSRI Mossel Bay duty coxswain, reported:

At 08:16 on Tuesday, January 21, the NSRI Mossel Bay duty crew was activated by the Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) Mossel Bay Port Control and Police Sea Borderline Control, following reports of a sailing yacht that had run aground at Santos Beach. The high tide, which peaked at 08:02, had just begun to recede.

The NSRI rescue craft Spirit of Safmarine III was launched, while NSRI rescue swimmers were dispatched to the scene in an NSRI rescue vehicle. Mossel Bay Fire and Rescue Services, South African Police Services (SAPS), Police Sea Borderline Control, and TNPA members also responded.

The TNPA harbour tug Arctic Tern was placed on standby by Mossel Bay Port Control.

Upon arrival, the NSRI team coordinated with The Blue Duck, an inflatable boat from The Skippers Foundation of Mossel Bay, which was already on scene assisting.

NSRI rescue swimmers boarded the stranded yacht to help the crew—a Finnish husband and wife—aboard the vessel. The couple, reportedly sailing around South Africa, had previously stopped at Richards Bay and were anchored offshore at swing moorings near Santos Beach. It’s believed that during the early hours, with three-meter swells, their yacht broke free from its moorings and drifted onto the shore.

With the assistance of The Blue Duck, a towline was secured from the Spirit of Safmarine III to the yacht. Using the outgoing tide and timing the sea swells, the NSRI team attempted to turn and pull the yacht, which was lying side-on to the beach, back into deeper water. Despite their efforts, they were unable to free the vessel.

The TNPA harbour tug Arctic Tern then joined the operation, and the towline was transferred to the tug. The Arctic Tern successfully towed the yacht off the beach and further out to sea.

NSRI crew remained on board with the couple throughout the operation. The yacht’s anchor, which had been dragging during the tow, was manually retrieved once they reached deeper waters.

The Arctic Tern towed the yacht to Mossel Bay Harbor, where the NSRI team assisted in safely mooring it at Vincent Jetty around 11:15. No further assistance was needed.