The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) responded to two incidents in which kayaks were seen adrift off the coast near Pringle Bay over the Easter weekend.
The NSRI Kleinmond duty crew were activated at 10:35 on Friday 15 April after eyewitness reports of a yellow kayak adrift a nautical mile off-shore of Pringle Bay. No person or persons could be seen on the kayak or in the vicinity, and the kayak was being blown towards Cape Point.
It was found that the kayaker, an adult male from Somerset West, was safely ashore at Pringle Bay after he abandoned his kayak in the surf zone and he required no further assistance.
On Saturday while NSRI Simonstown were on a routine training exercise a nautical mile off-shore of Romans Rock Lighthouse near Simonstown, an NSRI crewman on board the sea rescue craft Donna Nicholas caught sight of an object afloat at sea and the sea rescue craft was diverted to investigate.
An unmanned yellow kayak, fitting the description of the kayak that was abandoned at Pringle Bay, was recovered the next day by NSRI Simonstown, and it was confirmed to be the same kayak. Arrangements have been made for the man to collect his kayak at NSRI Simonstown rescue base.
On Saturday, NSRI EOC (Emergency Operations Centre) and NSRI Kleinmond duty crew were alerted to eyewitness reports of a double kayak being blown off-shore at Pringle Bay. NSRI Gordons Bay were placed on alert.
At 10:42 the police informed NSRI Kleinmond that a private boat, Black Pearl, was on its way to assist the kayakers. Black Pearl had rescued both kayakers and recovered their kayak. They required no further assistance.
The NSRI commend the crew of Black Pearl for their quick action.
The NSRI appeals to paddlers to download and use the free smartphone NSRI RSA SafeTrx app that can be found at www.nsri.org.za.