At 14h01 on Saturday 15 October, the NSRI Vaal Dam volunteer duty crew were activated following eye-witness reports of a yacht capsized near Groot Eiland on the Vaal Dam, approximately 7 miles from the NSRI rescue base, with 2 people onboard.
NSRI Vaal Dam launched their rescue craft HARVEY’S FIBREGLASS and SKINRAY.
Jake Manten, NSRI Vaal Dam duty coxswain, said that on arrival on-scene we found the 26 foot yacht SHALAUBRE capsized in the water and the 2 casualty crew, husband and wife Gary and Carol Mason, from Boksburg, East Rand, were taken onboard our rescue craft and they were found to be not injured.
Jake said that a tow-line was rigged and the yacht was secured and righted and then towed by NSRI Vaal Dam back to the couples mooring at the Stillbay Yacht Club where once safely moored they required no further assistance.
It is not known what caused the yacht to capsize but an investigation will be conducted.
