How the NSRI rescued two windsurfers in Rooi Els
NSRI assist two windsurfers off Rooi Els after equipment failure; both men returned safely to shore with help from Good Samaritans.
Image: Facebook/ NSRI Kleinmond
Two windsurfers were assisted by the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) after an eyewitness reported them possibly in difficulty offshore of Rooi Els.
According to Schalk Boonzaier, NSRI Kleinmond station commander, the NSRI Kleinmond duty crew was activated at 2:26pm on Friday, 6 February, following a report of two windsurfers suspected to be in trouble between one and two nautical miles offshore.
Rescue swimmers were dispatched to investigate while the Kleinmond duty crew responded to Kleinmond station 42, where the NSRI JetRIB rescue craft was prepared and towed to Rooi Els for launch.
At the same time, NSRI Gordon’s Bay duty crew activated and prepared a rescue craft at Gordon’s Bay station 9.
On arrival at Rooi Els, NSRI crews found that two local men, acting as Good Samaritans, had already launched a rubber-duck and reached the windsurfers. One of the windsurfers had been taken aboard the rubber-duck by the time the NSRI rescue craft arrived on scene.
NSRI recovered the affected windsurfer’s board, sail and gear, which were brought ashore. The man was returned safely to shore aboard the Good Samaritans’ vessel.
NSRI remained with the second windsurfer briefly, after which he was able to sail back to shore without further assistance.
The two windsurfers, adult men from Lakeside, were windsurfing when the mast of one board appears to have snapped. Both were well equipped with safety gear, including life jackets, marine VHF handheld radios, fully charged cellphones in waterproof sleeves, distress flares and the NSRI SafeTRX app, which had been activated for their trip.
Although they did not trigger the SafeTRX emergency function, believing they could self-rescue, the men expressed appreciation for the assistance from the Good Samaritans and the swift response by NSRI.
No injuries were reported and no further assistance was required once everyone was safely ashore.
NSRI commended the two local Good Samaritans for their prompt and responsible action.
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