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All 3 crew airlifted safely off yacht Eggnog

Posted 3 months, 25 days ago

All 3 crew airlifted safely off yacht Eggnog
Andrew Stevens, NSRI Durban Deputy Station Commander said: At around midday today NSRI Shelley Beach were alerted to track the progress of the yacht Eggnog sailing from Port Edward to Durban and reportedly battling in heavy weather but the skipper had not called an emergency and they were trying to sail through the weather. NSRI Shelley Beach were placed on full alert. At 14h34 NSRI Durban were placed on full alert to be on stand-by as the yachts skipper, Yaron Padagio, and crew, Annelie Norris from East London and Neil van der Walt, from Pretoria, reported that they were battling to keep control of the yacht and were deciding whether or not to declare an emergency. NSRI Durban’s rescue craft Eikos Rescuer II was prepared for a launch to go to their aid and at approximately 16h45 the crew aboard Eggnog declared an emergency and requested to be rescued off the yacht and stated that they were preparing to abandon ship. Eikos Rescuer II launched and a National Ports Authority Augusta helicopter was activated from the Port of Durban with NSRI rescue swimmer Andre Fletcher, Pilot Rhys Mason, Co-Pilot Douglas Nichols and Flight Engineer Gerhard Coetzee on-board. An NSRI Shelley Beach crew were activated to stand-by at the Mhlungwa River Mouth to assist if it was necessary to bring the casualty crew ashore immediately. On arrival on-scene, approximately 1.6 nautical miles off-shore of the Mhlungwa River Mouth, South of Ifafa in the area of Hibberdene, in zero visibility conditions, a rain squall, 30 to 35 knot South Westerly winds and a confused sea state with 3 to 4 metre choppy, wind swept rough sea swells and breaking surf, NSRI rescue swimmer Andre Fletcher was winch-hoisted from the helicopter into the sea and Andre beckoned and shouted instructions to the first crew member to abandon ship by jumping into the water to be secured and hoisted into the helicopter but in the driving rain and against the noise of the helicopter the 3 casualty crew failed to understand the instructions so Andre was hoisted back into the helicopter which then hovered above the yacht while the flight engineer used hand signals to explain to the casualty crew what was expected of them. On the second attempt Andre was again hoisted into the water and Neil jumped off the yacht into the sea and Andre secured him and they were hoisted into the helicopter. 2 more similar runs were made – on the second run Annelie was hoisted while being secured by Andre and then on the third run the skipper was hoisted while being secured by Andre. Andre said that during the hoisting operation and each time he was lowered into the surf to receive the next victim breaking waves and extremely rough sea conditions were driving him back and forth putting his swimming skills to an extreme test. None of the crew were injured and they were brought safely, aboard the Augusta helicopter, directly to the Port Heli-pad at the Port of Durban. The unmanned yacht is reportedly at the back surf line off-shore of the Mhlungwa River Mouth and according to eye-witnesses she appears to be close to running aground. Source: Craig Lambinon, NSRI Related: Paddle to Shore for Fuel? NSRI Stories Full Story »

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