Deep-Star

On Nov 1, 2014, at 4.47 p.m. the NSRI Table Bay was activated by the Transnet National Ports Authority following reports of the yacht "Morning Wings" calling a Mayday distress call from inside the Port of Table Bay along the Eastern Mole at Duncan Dock. The sea rescue craft "Spirit of Vodacom" responded while other vessels in the area went to investigate the nature of the Mayday distress call. On arrival on-scene they found the 6.5 meter yacht had been blown, in a 45 knot South Easterly wind, and jammed between the quayside and the "Top Estreda do Mar" at her mooring alongside the Quay, and wedged between the auayside and the research vessel and the yacht was at risk of being sucked under the research vessel and under the quayside in the strong winds. Her mast had been damaged during the ordeal. Both crew had managed to get off the yacht onto the quayside and the unidentified crewman, who had reportedly been suffering from an episode of asthma, had already left the scene by private vehicle. The lifeboat crew was abled to get a tow-line to the casualty craft and towed her into the channel of Duncan Dock where the sea rescue craft went alongside the yacht and took her to a safe mooring at the Royal Cape Yacht Club. Once safely moored they dismantled the yachts damaged mast which was at risk of being blown onto other yachts and to avoid damage to any other yachts the mast was dismantled and the mast has been safely placed away from causing any danger or damage. It appeared that the yacht had been caught in the strong winds which funneedl through the Port and it appears that the skipper was unable to steer and motor his yacht into the headwind and away from danger before the yacht was blown into the research vessel and then jamming in between the research vessel and the quayside. The skipper had broadcast a Mayday distress call when he realised that the yacht would be smashed into the research vessel and the quayside, and there appeared to be nothing he could do to prevent the allision and he may have hoped that any nearby vessel could come to his aid and tow him away from danger to avoid the collision and the possible threat to his own life and that of his crewman that may have been posed by the impending collision. No vessel reached the yacht before the collision which has caused substantial damage. Report with photos: http://www.nsri.org.za/2014/11/collision-in-port-after-yacht-battered-by-winds/