Update

MOSSEL BAY NEWS - The small boat, the Wild Cat, which has been stranded on Santos Beach for a week, has not been able to return to its owner due to the unfeasible conditions created by the spring high tide and the boat taking on some water.

Station 15 of the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) in Mossel Bay, as well as the Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA), the Port of Mossel Bay Port Control, Mossel Bay Municipality authorities and the police were first alerted to the boat’s presence on Wednesday evening, 29 July.

According to Brian Cloete, station commander of Station 15, the unmanned local vessel appeared to have broken free from its moorings during the spring high tide, and it washed ashore on Santos Beach.

“Our NSRI Mossel Bay crew were activated at 19:00 and launched our rescue craft. We worked to make use of the spring high tide to tow the vessel off the beach, but our efforts were unsuccessful,” said Cloete.

The stranded boat on Santos Beach, Mossel Bay. Photo: Gabriélla Siebritz

During the early hours of Thursday 30 July, in co-operation with the Mossel Bay Port Control, the NSRI Mossel Bay crew launched their rescue craft again. 

However, their efforts to tow the vessel out to sea were unsuccessful once again, as the boat was too heavy due to it having taken on some water.

Later on Thursday, with the spring high tide continuing, the crew considered various ways to refloat the boat; however, none of them were feasible as the vessel was now heavily laden due to further water intake.

According to Cloete, in co-operation with the boat’s owner in Cape Town, the Mossel Bay Port Control is investigating ways to refloat the boat and return it to its owner.

In the meantime, the Wild Cat is enjoying a ‘high and dry’ vacation on Santos Beach and has drawn scores of curious onlookers. 

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