A whale-watching boat braved rough seas and a strong wind on Thursday to tow back a snoek boat that capsized off Onrus near Hermanus in the Western Cape on Wednesday.
National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) spokesperson Craig Lambinon said the Miroshga pulled in the Masakane 1 on its back after failed attempts to right it out at sea.
”It was righted in Hermanus harbour and put back on its trailer for damage assessment and repairs,” he said.
Miroshga owner Shaun Alcock said the towing effort was hampered by the 3m to 4m swell and a five-knot south-westerly wind.
”We found the Masakane 1 approximately a nautical mile from her given position. We tried to right the upturned boat, but to no avail.
”It was towed back to Hermanus harbour as it was found,” Alcock said.
NSRI Hermanus deputy station commander Ian Alton said the institute was informed by the fishing craft No Spares on Wednesday that the 5m ski boat Masakane 1, with a crew of four, had capsized off Onrus.
”All four of them were rescued by the fishing craft Rosemary,” he said.
However, plans to bring back the Masakane 1 had to wait until the Miroshga went to the rescue on Thursday when other plans had failed.
Masakane 1 owner and skipper Colin Matinka said they had caught a lot of snoek and ”the vessel took on water and capsized”. — Sapa