[Lighthouse]

Yacht Clandara - catamaran adrift in the Indian Ocean

SA men wait on rescue from yacht Clandara
01/08/2007 12:15 - (SA)

Johannesburg - Authorities on the island of Reunion said it could take them until Saturday to get to the yacht Clandara adrift in the Indian Ocean, SABC news reported on Wednesday.

Four yachtsmen on board the catamaran Clandara were stranded in deep seas after their yacht lost its mast, sail and radio antenna during heavy storms on Monday evening.

Three South African men and one Australian were on board and had been sailing from Durban to Australia.

Details Here

Apparently, the yacht Clandara has been motoring in heavy seas after the dismasting and are running out of fuel - not good.

We wish them well!

[Trim50]

I wonder how they made contact with the radio antenna being downed...sat phone maybe?

[Lighthouse]

A merchant Russian ship is on its way to rescue four men on board the catamaran Clandara yacht adrift in the Indian Ocean, the SABC reported on Wednesday.

The yacht lost its mast, sail and radio antenna during heavy storms on Monday evening.

Three South African men and one Australian were on board. They had been sailing from Durban to Australia.

The Reunion Island rescue co-ordinating centre said it had requested a ship in the vicinity to rescue the men.

The Russian ship is expected to reach the men on Thursday morning.

Apparently, they made radio contact soon after the storm struck - before losing their mast. The yacht had been bought in Durban by the Australian man and had taken on a delivery crew to assist him to take it to Australia.

[Tony]

Yes, they made contact via Sat phone.
I wish them well
Tony

[Lighthouse]

August 01, 2007, 19:30

Help is on the way for three South Africans and one Australian crew on board the catamaran Clandara. The yacht Clandara lost its mast, sail and radio antenna when it was hit by a heavy storm in the Indian Ocean two days ago.

Clandara is currently adrift 600 nautical miles off Reunion. The crew is fast running out of food and water. A Russian-registered merchant vessel Nino M, which was in the vicinity, has been redirected to assist the troubled Clandara. This was confirmed by the Reunion Rescue Coordination Centre.

The men are not out of danger yet. A wind storm and six-metre swells are predicted for the area tonight. The Clandara and its crew left Durban two weeks ago to deliver the yacht in Australia. On board is the delivery skipper Charles Wasserfall, the Australian owner Arthur Envar, Rodney Wolhuter and Craig Durheim. It is believed most of them are experienced yachtsmen.
Report with thanks from SABC News, last night.

[Nausikaa]

I hope the guys are ok, especially as Lloyds MIU has no record of any merchant vessel called Nino M. It may be a fishing vessel though and therefore not in their database.

Aye

Stephen

[Circe]

They left Durban for Australia (which is not just around the corner) two weeks ago and are already running out of food and water....hmmmm . Experienced yachtsmen those four, indeed!

[Lighthouse]

Nausikaa, on Aug 2 2007, 01:18 PM, said:

I hope the guys are ok, especially as Lloyds MIU has no record of any merchant vessel called Nino M. It may be a fishing vessel though and therefore not in their database.

Aye

Stephen

I have just confirmed that it is the "NeneM". As yet unconfirmed officially, but apparently the crew were picked up safely and en-route to Japan. Apparently, the yacht was busy sinking when the NeneM arrived. Will post a full report when an official confirmation/announcement is published.

Please take the above report as unofficial for the moment - it requires confirmation.

[kathym]

Circe, on Aug 2 2007, 02:07 PM, said:

They left Durban for Australia (which is not just around the corner) two weeks ago and are already running out of food and water....hmmmm . Experienced yachtsmen those four, indeed!

You should not be so quick to believe all you read! They had plenty of food. Lost water over the side when mast came down but still had enough to get them to nearest island.

Fortunately, all safe.

[Trim50]

Lighthouse, on Aug 2 2007, 03:35 PM, said:

Apparently, the yacht was busy sinking when the NeneM arrived.

Scuttled maybe?

[Lighthouse]

The first "official" report:

Help arrives for stranded SA yacht
August 02, 2007, 12:15

Nina M, the Russian Merchant Ship, has arrived at Clandara, the catamaran, to offer assistance to the crewmen on the yacht adrift in the Indian Ocean. The merchant ship was re-routed yesterday with the intention of delivering diesel to the boat.

Pamela Wolhuter, the wife of one of the crewmen on board the Clandara, says they have now discovered a crack in the hull of the yacht. She says it appears they will no longer try to save the vessel.

"The big Russian carrier arrived a short while ago to bring diesel to the yacht and I do not know what actually transpired but there is a crack in the hull of the yacht now. I presume the yacht is sinking so they are all getting off now," she said.

SABC NEWS (with photos of the crew)

[kathym]

Lighthouse, on Aug 2 2007, 04:35 PM, said:

I have just confirmed that it is the "NeneM". As yet unconfirmed officially, but apparently the crew were picked up safely and en-route to Japan. Apparently, the yacht was busy sinking when the NeneM arrived. Will post a full report when an official confirmation/announcement is published.

Please take the above report as unofficial for the moment - it requires confirmation.

Confirmed. Spoke to Skipper of Clandara this morning. Cat sunk. All four men on board the "NeneM" and bound for Japan. Will arrive there in 17 days. All fine.