Stricken racing yacht rescued
THE HOWLING south-easter hampered NSRI efforts to help a crippled German yacht into Hout Bay harbour yesterday.
The twin-masted ketch, Chessie, had been taking part in the 2010 Arc Around the World Rally when it lost its rudder about two miles out of Hout Bay yesterday.
NSRI spokesman Craig Lambinon said Chessie’s skipper, Joachim Doehne, had sent out an alert. Local yacht Brown Eyed Girl went out to guide Chessie in, but when the yacht lost its steering they called the NSRI for help.
Hout Bay station commander Brad Geyser, who was at the scene last night, said the weather conditions were “absolutely foul. The wind is really bad. We’re looking at 35 to 40 knots.”
At the time of going to press the yacht was being escorted into Hout Bay by Brown Eyed Girl and the NSRI.
The Weather Office says the wind will moderate tonight, but is expected to pick up again on Tuesday.
“The low pressure will cause foggy conditions along the West Coast on Monday.”
Meteorologist Stella Nake said a strong ridge of high pressure was responsible for the “deep south-easter” experienced around the Peninsula yesterday and today.
“Typically this is the time when the ‘tablecloth’ appears on Table Mountain.”
Yesterday afternoon wind speeds peaked at 60km/h at Cape Town International Airport.
Satellite weather watcher Jean-Pierre Arabonis, of Ocean Satellite Imaging Systems, said although the seas were rough, only small fishing vessels would have a hard time.
“It’s still a nasty piece of wind,” he said.
Disaster Risk Management’s Wilfred Solomons-Johannes said there had been no reported incidents related to the high wind.
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