The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) urges the public to closely monitor weather forecasts and adhere to weather warnings in light of hazardous sea conditions which have already necessitated several rescues along the coastline.
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On Saturday, NSRI Simon’s Town responded to an RHIB (rigid hull inflatable boat) with a dad, mom and their young son onboard after the family experienced motor failure.
Despite putting to anchor offshore of Smitswinkel Bay, they continued to drift.
‘Our NSRI Simonstown duty crew responded to our NSRI station 10 rescue base where we launched the NSRI Simonstown rescue vessel Donna Nicholas,’ says Simon McDonnell, NSRI Simon’s Town station commander.
‘We had a rescue crew remain on station ready and prepared to launch our rescue craft Jack & Irene if it became necessary. In good sea conditions, we reached the casualty craft finding the Cape Town family to be safe.’
The team established a towline and towed them to the False Bay Yacht Club at Simon’s Town Harbour.
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In Mossel Bay on the same day, the NSRI duty crew activated to assist a husband wife and their female friend who were trapped on rocks by the incoming spring high tide at Glentana.
NSRI Mossel Bay duty coxswain Dawie Zwiegelaar says two NSRI rescue swimmers and two members of the local community accessed the gulley down a cliff path and waded through waist-deep water, timing the incoming wave sets during a lull in the incoming waves.
‘Secured into life jackets they were assisted by the NSRI rescue swimmers and the 2 Good Samaritans to reach the mainland and traverse a cliff, without incident, and once safely at the main car park, they required no further assistance.’
‘The three Johannesburg adults are commended for raising the alarm and waiting for assistance rather than risking wading through the channel or waiting for low tide which would have only been well after 10pm,’ he adds.
Despite the successful rescue operations, the NSRI cautions the public on rough sea conditions and gale force winds expecting to cause hazardous inshore sea conditions and hazardous shoreline conditions compounded by the spring tide in places.
The organisation appeals to the commercial maritime industry at sea to wear life jackets during commercial operations.
‘Sea conditions during this inclement weather are compounded by this cold front happening during the new moon Spring tide that peaked in the early hours of Saturday morning and that will extend into about the middle of the new week,’ it said.
The NSRI also appeals to extreme sports and sport fishing craft to preferably not launch in these current inclement weather conditions.
‘Anglers and coastal hikers should be aware of the Spring high tide with shoreline conditions compounded by rough seas that may cut off coastline areas during the high tide,’ it added.
‘Inland waterways, rivers, lakes and dams are expected, in places, to flood and/or swell where heavy rainfall is forecast by the South African Weather Service (SAWS).’
‘Do not cross through flooded roadways or cross bridges over riverways that are submerged by swollen rivers.’
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Picture: Brenton Geach / Gallo Images