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VASCO
The French-made sail yacht was on its maiden voyage from Port Victoria (Seychelles) to Abu Dhabi. During the passage, the yacht encountered rough weather and total power failure and was drifting near Kavaratti islands.
According to information, the Coast Guard District Headquarters at Kavaratti on August 3 received a message from the local police regarding the sighting of a adrift sail yatch. The ‘ICGS Samarth', which was patrolling in the area, was immediately diverted to investigate. Braving rough seas and strong winds, the ‘ICGS Samarth' located the sail yacht at 1.30 am on August 4, about 25 kms south east of Kavaratti Islands.
The crew of ‘ICGS Samarth' went towards it and found the two South African nationals on board the sail yacht ‘Louise' and rescued the Master Gavin Stephen (25) and Marnu Christof (21). The yacht had no communication measures and propulsion due to total power failure.
Goa Coast Guard Chief DIG Manoj Baadkar informed that efforts to take the yacht under tow also proved futile as the yacht that was built for leisure had no strong towing points. "The heavy swell at rough sea and winds blowing at 40 to 60 knots approx 100 km per hour made it further difficult to save the vessel and eventually the yacht sank in the sea after sea water entered the yacht."
"Both the crew are in a good health and the owner of the yacht, Gregory Pecker, residing at Abu Dhabi has been contacted and told to arrange various formalities for their safe departure to their native country."
"The ‘ICGS Samarth' reached Mormugao port on Monday with the rescued South African nationals as Kavaratti cannot accommodate the ship as big as ‘ICGS Samarth' and preliminary investigations are in process along with IB, immigration and other officials," informed Baadkar.
Baadkar has congratulated the captain of ICGS Samarth DIG K R D Kumar and other staff of ICGS Samarth for saving the lives of two South African nationals.
Speaking to the media, Gavin said: "It was a matter of life and death for us at sea and I can't thank the Indian Coast Guard enough from the bottom of my heart for doing everything in their powers to rescue us. I need to thank their seamanship for all the numerous attempts at night and numerous attempts during the day to rescue us at sea and safely get us on board the ICGS vessel."
