On the afternoon of Saturday 9 January 2016 NSRI Table Bay were activated following a request for assistance from the 2 crew on the peddle boat Herbivore, crewed by a 27 year old and his 50 year old mother, reporting that the lady was suffering severe motion sickness.
In rough seas and strong winds (gusting up to 60 knots) NSRI Table Bay launched the sea rescue craft Spirit of Vodacom to rendezvous with the peddle boat 12 nautical miles off Bokpunt.
About this incident, Du Plessis said on his Facebook page:
“The boat was handling strong Cape Seas, 40 knot winds & 4-6 metre swells but the pedal system just couldn't beat the conditions as we tried to push further West & out to sea. We were both sea sick. I managed to eat & drink a bit, also reminding my mom to do the same.
Eventually after 8 hours of pedaling from departure & becoming very fatigued, trying to get further West, I deployed the Sea Anchor & was then at the full mercy of wind directions. Initially the South Easter wind was blowing us westward out to sea, but the change to a South wind began to push us North & towards the coast. After being on sea anchor for the night & following day, all we could do was wait.
My mom was suffering from chronic sea sickness, she suggested we call for help but I told her this was to be expected & give it another day or two before we call for help, but my thoughts at the time were that we wouldn't need help because we would be pushed back to shore & either beach the craft or call for a tow when much closer to land.
I had been very preoccupied with managing the boat & had neglected updates to home, as I assumed the live tracking device would be sufficient. My mom then called Chanel & because they hadn't heard from us directly for over 24 hours & noticed we were drifting way of course, they called NSRI to come find us. I was completely oblivious to any rescue efforts, as my mom & I lay hunkered in the boat waiting to see what the weather did, not feeling the need for rescue as we felt safe in the boat, uncomfortable, but safe. Never did it feel like a life threatening situation, so there was no need for a rescue.
After the call to home & being told that there is a boat looking for us, I decided that seeing as the boat was near & that we were drifting closer to Dassen Island, I asked if we could get a tow & also tend to my mom.
Initially we were being towed back to CT, but the conditions were getting worse, so the boat was then taken to Dassen Island, with my mom & I then returning to Cape Town with the NSRI crew as I knew that we won't be able to get off the Cape anytime soon & some changes have to be made. My mom also reached her breaking point, which I can understand because she was experiencing terrible sea sickness.
The reality is that with these adventures, especially if it's something that hasn't been done before, there are going to be challenges & set backs. Fortunately I have pulled some vital information from this experience, can now make some adjustments. I will miss my window period for departure, so have to encounter a delay & hopefully be ready to pedal the Atlantic at the end of this year.
Thank you for all the support, encouragement & a big thank you to Chanel, Chris, Shaun & the NSRI for their great work. The work the NSRI do is amazing & all funded from donations, a sterling team!”
Photo: YouTube
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