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Missing yacht with two German sailors found safe and sound
Extensive search operations were started for two German citizens, one with dual American citizenship, between East London and Gqeberha on Oct 16, 2025, aboard he 42 foot s/v 'Katouska'. The yacht, enroute from Mauritius to East London, had sent a Mayday distress call in the early morning, which was intercepted by theTelkom Maritime Radio Services. They indicated to NSRI EOC (Emergency Operations Centre) and MRCC, that they were taking on water and in distress. A rescue operation was activated from the NSRI East London, when the sailors indicated that they had stemmed the ingress of water and were rigging sails in efforts to get to the Port of East London. As a precaution, the NSRI East London launched the 'Spirit of Lotto-Rescue 7' to meet with them approximately 20 nautical miles of Kei Mouth. Eastern Cape, to escort them to East London. At daybreak, all communications were lost. An SAR operation, coordinated by the MRCC, assisted by the NSRI East London, NSRI EOC, Telkom Maritime Radio Services, the NSRI East London rescue craft, multiple vessels at sea, in the area, and NSRI coast watchers, as well as advanced search technology, plotting search grids taking into account sea drift, wind speeds and direction, that continued throughout the day and into the morning of Oct 17, hampered by storm seas with up to eight meter sea swells and storm fronts, has revealed no signs of the sailing yacht. The NSRI Port Alfred, NSRI Gqeberha and private fixed wing aircraft have joined the NSRI East London together with multiple private vessels, in ongoing search efforts, while the Telkom Maritime Radio Services continued to broadcast VHF marine radio all ships alerts requesting vessels at sea between Kei Mouth and Gqeberha to keep a sharp look-out for the sailing vessel. On the afternoon of Oct 17 the skipper made contact, stating they were 13 nautical miles off East London and naking five knots, pumping the water out and setting up a rig. The yacht and its two crew members were then escorted and assisted by the NSRI East London ot the port during the afternoon.
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