After three years the Trans-Atlantic Boat Adventure returned with three of the West Coast’s National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) teams taking part.
Together with NSRI Mykonos and Lamberts Bay the team from Yzerfontein spent the first weekend of April on the water providing assistance and back-up to all the participating pencil (rubber) ducks.
Friday consisted out of a race from Laaiplek to Elands Bay and then back to Laaiplek, after which they did a surf circuit.
According to NSRI Yzerfontein the team launched at 06:00 and headed towards Paternoster, where they were supposed to meet up with all the participants and the other rescue vessels, for the first planned fuel stop and then accompany them to Mykonos for the second fuel stop.
However, the conditions around Cape Columbine was deemed to be unsafe for the participants so they waited for Rescue 4A in Paternoster and departed for Mykonos.
With the first leg Laaiplek to Paternoster and second leg from Paternoster to Mykonos cancelled on Saturday, a decision was made to continue the race from Mykonos to Yzerfontein.
The participants set off from Mykonos to Yzerfontein heading into a strong South Easter and 2-3 m swell.
There were a few retirements, but most contestants made it safely to Yzerfontein. One of the pencil ducks had to be escorted there slowly as it had been stripped of its propeller. Later the teams were ready for the surf circuit. It was a gruelling seven and a half hours on the water but a great experience for all.
