Durban — The prestigious Rubicon Memorial Trophy was presented to the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) Shelly Beach on Sunday.
Nigel Milne, organising committee member and Ron Pet, race officer, for the Minuteman Vasco Da Gama Ocean Race 2022, presented NSRI Shelly Beach with the prestigious trophy for their assistance to yacht Adios during an emergency at this year’s race from Durban to East London.
DLS Plumbing, who provided water pumps, were thanked for their involvement.
According to a report from the NSRI, during the race, the yacht Adios suffered water intake from blocked scuppers off-shore of Umtentweni, near Port Shepstone in KwaZulu-Natal.
At 10.45am, Monday, May 23, the NSRI Shelly Beach rescue craft Spirit of Dawn responded carrying diesel and water extrication pumps and the situation was corrected.
Although yacht Adios resigned from the race they made it safely to East London without incident.
On Sunday, July 24, Milne and Pet presented NSRI Shelly Beach deputy station commander Ruahn Beattie with the trophy and thanked DLS plumbing. The ceremony was attended by NSRI Shelly Beach crew.
“We are honoured to receive this award,” said Gary Wolmerans, NSRI Shelly Beach station commander.
Milne said the Vasco Da Gama race committee are most appreciative of the work done by NSRI Shelly Beach for South African sailing.
The Rubicon Memorial Trophy is the legacy to all who assisted in the extensive search for yacht Rubicon and her crew that floundered off the Wild Coast in 1984 during a Vasco Da Gama Race, Durban to East London, when hit by gale force winds. The yacht and all her crew vanished and nothing was ever found.
Daily News