Article by By Bev Mortimer
The racing yacht, Tipsy, that was washed onto rocks at Coffee Bay on Friday night last week, is tragically the second yacht lost by skipper, Jon Marshall, during the voyage home to Durban, on the same section of the Eastern Cape coastline, formerly called Transkei, and after the same race in East London in the same month of May.
Marshall’s other yacht, Majimoto, met a highly similar fate on 20 May 2021. In both cases crew abandoned ship and were located and found safe on life rafts and rescued by NSRI volunteer crew members with the assistance of other rescue parties.
Jon Marshall is renowned in racing circles for being “a tremendously experienced skipper who has sailed most of the world”.
However, some sadly say that to all appearances this patch of coastline seems to have it in for him.
Tipsy washed ashore at Coffee Bay on Friday night , 24 May, this year, and Majimoto landed onto rocks North of the Kei River Mouth after mid May 2021. Tipsy, has suffered huge damage with gaping holes, half her hull gone and keel gone, according to reliable reports. The rudder of Majimoto broke off in rough seas and became adrift until the yacht was found wrecked on rocks near Kobonqaba Mouth and Trennerys Hotel.
Yesterday morning an NSRI release announced yacht Tipsy had just completed the Vasco da Gama Ocean Race 2024 – Durban to East London. Following its collision with a submerged container, it started to take in water rapidly and began sinking. The four crew from Durban, including the 69 year-old skipper, abandoned ship and took refuge in a life raft. They were located and recovered from their life raft by NSRI Port Edward crew members.
In 2021 five crew members from the Majimoto yacht were recovered from their life raft at sea by the NSRI East London and rescued safely onto the NSRI sea rescue craft.
Yesterday the Commodore of the Point Yacht Club (PYC), Robin Hulley, in Durban expressed his gratitude to all involved in “the successful rescue operation of the Tipsy crew following the unfortunate incident after the Vasco da Gama yacht race, Hulley said. The skipper , Jon Marshall is a member of PYC.
“Thanks to the swift and professional response of several key parties, the crew were safely rescued and returned to shore in Port Edward, Hulley continued. “We wish to specifically acknowledge:
“The Race Organisers: Your vigilance and immediate action ensured the safety of our sailors.
“The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI): Your dedication and expertise are invaluable. Your quick response undoubtedly prevented a potential tragedy. Thank you especially, to the team based at Port Edward.
“Hemraj Gokal and Barry Boorman: Your efforts and coordination were crucial in the success of this rescue mission.
“Our community is deeply appreciative of the collaboration and heroism displayed. Thank you for your unwavering commitment to the safety and well-being of our sailors.”
Recounting the incident on Friday this past week, involving Tipsy, the NSRI said five NSRI stations and other rescue bodies carried out a well co-ordinated rescue operation to locate the yacht and rescued four crewman on their a life raft adrift in the sea near Coffee Bay. The crew members were skipper Jon Marshall, a woman, aged 61, and two men aged 64 and 62, all from Durban.
The NSRI volunteer rescue crew members were from the rescue stations of Port Edward, Shelly Beach, Port St Johns, Mdumbi, East London and Durban. The NSRI said the rescue operation is the longest NSRI Rigid Hull Inflatable Craft rescue operation in the history of NSRI with the main station, NSRI Port Edward covering around 158 nautical miles.
The NSRI said just after 7.30 pm on Friday evening NSRI Port Edward duty crew were activated by reports of the yacht sinking and of the crew being on a life raft, about 1 nautical mile offshore of Umgazana, Lutatweni in the former Transkei.
Telkom Maritime Radio Services relayed a Mayday distress call and the sailing yacht Zing, situated about four hours away from the stricken yacht, diverted to sail there. NSRI Operations duty managers assisted at NSRI EOC, at NSRI H/O.
Vasco da Gama race organisers assisted with logistics, coordination and communications in cooperation with Telkom Services, NSRI Emergency Operations Centre, and NSRI stations, duty controllers and mangers at NSRI H/O.
The NSRI Port Edward rescue launched its rescue craft, Spirit of Steve, while Shelly Beach craft, Spirit of Dawn was the back-up craft. Both craft carried extra fuel . NSRI Durban, NSRI Mdumbi, NSRI Port St Johns and NSRI East London duty crews, plus the SAPS, EC Government, Health EMS and Police Search and Rescue were placed on alert
The four crew reported they were cold in their life raft but safe. It was estimated they were 55 nautical miles kms from Port Edward and one nautical mile offshore of Port St Johns . The crew were advised to keep only one cell on to save batteries on the three other phones..
Telkom Services provided VHF communications to NSRI rescue craft and to the sailing yacht Zing . Other rescue and interested parties were also alerted and kept briefed and some EC coastal life guards and others were asked to keep a look out for the submerged container.
On arrival at Port St Johns the NSRI Port Edward rescue crew realised the crew on the life raft were near Coffee Bay, about 79 nautical miles from Port Edward. The life raft had drifted south of Port St Johns in overcast, heavy rain conditions, with up to 2-metre sea swells, fair seas, and light North Easterly winds.
Shelly Beach NSRI crew reached Mbotyi and waited there as safety back-up to the rescue operation. NSRI East London crew alerted the Police Air Wing and d the EC Government Health EMS rescue helicopter to be on stand-by.
NSRI Port Edward rescue crew asked the crew members in the life raft to deploy a distress flare so they could locate their exact position. Offshore of Coffee Bay, the Port Edward NSRI duty crew found Tipsy adrift, at the back breakers semi submerged with her bow up and stern deep under water.
All four crew were recovered at 1.23 am yesterday morning. Crew members were found to be thirsty and cold but safe. They were provided blankets and water. The families of the crew and everyone involved in the search expressed relief, gratitude and joy.
The life raft was recovered deflated, and NSRI Port Edward crew returned to Port Edward, refuelling on the way at Mbotyi with the assistance of NSRI Shelly Beach. Med-Evac ambulance services paramedics examined the crew members who were treated for hypothermia and dehydration. They did not need medical care.
The casualty crew are staying with friends at Port Edward before returning to Durban. Their yacht, Tipsy, was found washed ashore on the rocky shoreline in the vicinity of Coffee Bay. NSRI Mdumbi duty crew are recovering personal items from the yacht.
The NSRI Port Edward duty crew has been commended for this successful rescue operation, plus the swift response and cooperation between everyone involved has also been commended.
Photos,below, of Majimoto that was wrecked in 2021:
