Cape Town yacht crew have lucky escape

Three yacht crew members on a pleasure cruise had a lucky escape after a container ship weighing more than 13 000 tons grazed their vessel.

The incident on Sunday occurred in clear weather about 10 nautical miles north-west of Robben Island, said National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) spokesperson Craig Lambinon.

Initial reports that the accident occurred in thick fog were incorrect.

Lambinon said The Dolphin, a 32-foot, eight-ton, wooden-hulled yacht was "side-swiped" by the 149-metre, 13 781-ton Gisela Oldendoff.

He said two NSRI rescue craft scrambled to the scene after an emergency distress signal was sent out.

Dolphin skipper Gavin Cosgrove and his two crew members were taking on water and feared the yacht might sink.

However, they managed to stem the tide and made their way to Cape Town Harbour under their own steam and escorted by the NSRI vessels.

Lambinon said a Sikorski helicopter from the Canadian Helicopter Company had been placed on alert as a contingency measure.

He said the yacht sustained "severe damage" to the starboard aft, as well as an apparent hole below the waterline.

The sea crew on their way from Langebaan to Hout Bay were uninjured.

The Gisela's last port of call was Tampa, Florida and she expected to dock in Cape Town later on Sunday evening.

It was unclear what, if any, damage the container vessel sustained.

Lambinon said it was unclear exactly how the accident occurred in clear weather.