Never Home until you're Home - Cat Catastrophe

'Retrieving valuable items from sunk catamaran - never home until you're home...' .

You're never home until you're home. After sailing 2500 nautical miles from Mozambique, the last 500 metres proved the most dangerous for a South African boat builder from Port Alfred when his catamaran was slammed onto rocks by massive waves yesterday in the treacherous Kowie River mouth, which he had navigated many times before. A loss of steering at the critical time appeared to be the cause of the near catastrophe.

Watched by dozens of horrified spectators , there were several anxious moments as National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) volunteers swam with ropes to the stricken catamaran and used two boats to pull 55-year-old solo sailor Dennis Schultz and his yacht to safety.

However, it wasn't the only near disaster that day. Earlier, rescue attempts by another boat, skippered by Schultz's son Clinton, 29, were thwarted when a rope became entangled in a motor and he was also almost smashed into the pier by 4metre waves.

Schultz senior was finally pulled off the rocks by the NSRI and towed up the river - 45 minutes after his nightmare began - while Clinton was helped by an NSRI swimmer.

Taking in water fast, the 12m SuperCat II was pulled onto a sand bank opposite the Royal Alfred Marina so rescuers could salvage goods and work out how to save the boat from sinking before the high tide came in.

Speaking after his "frightening" ordeal Schultz, who owns a local boat building firm, said he was relieved to make it home alive after discovering a crack in his hull while cruising off Mozambique.

"The hull was taking water and I tried to nurse the boat back so I could fix it. I was almost home when I lost steering on one side and was broadsided into the pier.

"I just had to hold on and hope I would be OK."

he sailed 2500 nm from Mozambique - .. .

Praising the local NSRI for coming to his aid "within 10 minutes", Schultz said he suspected the hull was damaged before he set sail for Mozambique five months ago.

He said the wake from speed boats using the Kowie River had probably smashed the hull against its mooring after protective fenders were stolen.

"We were very lucky . we could have had two boats in trouble after the rope tangled in Clinton's motor."

After attaching flotation devices to the half submerged boat, NSRI station commander Kerryn van der Walt said huge swells and heavy onshore winds had hampered the rescue operation.

"We really battled to set up tow lines . one of the hulls was punctured and we ended up pulling the yacht with our big boat and pushing it from behind with a rubber duck."

A relieved Neil Schultz yesterday said after braving 5000km of treacherous seas off South Africa and Mozambique, it was ironic his father had smashed into the pier only 500m from the yacht's Port Alfred mooring.

"My father grew up on a commercial fishing boat in Port Alfred and has been in and out the mouth hundreds of times without a problem. We are thankful the accident happened so close to home and that he is still OK, otherwise it could have been a disaster."

NSRI spokesperson Craig Lambinon said the yacht had broached and smashed into the pier while negotiating the mouth at 25 knots.

by Daily Dispatch/Sail-World