A missing yacht found adrift with its dead skipper still aboard sank off the coast of Mossel Bay after efforts to recover his body failed at the weekend.
Darrol Hansen, the partially disabled 60-year-old skipper who called himself “The Viking”, left Saldanha Bay earlier this month in an “unseaworthy” yacht despite warnings of imminent danger.
He ran into trouble off Robben Island and took shelter in Cape Town before leaving again despite further warnings about his safety. After days of radio silence his small inshore racing yacht Panacea was spotted adrift close to Cape Agulhas in stormy seas with no sign of life aboard, initiating a daring rescue attempt by the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI).
While rescuers were on their way a tanker was diverted to the yacht’s position. Again no sign of life was seen, even when the ship sounded its horn.
An air force Oryx helicopter located the yacht, and a rescue swimmer discovered Hansen’s body inside the cabin. The cause of death was unclear. The swimmer placed a signalling beacon on the yacht before being hoisted back into the helicopter, which had to return to base.
An NSRI vessel was deployed to tow the yacht to Stilbaai but had to abort the tow in heavy seas. Rescuers were not permitted to remove the body from the yacht and police were unable to reach the scene to investigate the death before it sank in about 59m of water 12 nautical miles south of Mossel Bay.
TimesLIVE Premium on Monday established that:
- Hansen purchased his yacht in Saldanha Bay and outfitted her before a planned trip to Mossel Bay. He had a prosthetic leg and walked on crutches, prompting concern that he may not be suitably prepared for the trip around Cape Agulhas.
- Saldanha Bay Yacht Club raised the alarm and submitted a letter to authorities informing them the vessel lacked vital safety equipment.
- The yacht limped into Cape Town with rigging issues and was formally detained by the SA Maritime Safety Authority.
- It was deemed unseaworthy due to expired safety equipment, damaged life jackets and inoperative navigational lights, among other technical issues.
- The yacht nevertheless departed from Cape Town last Friday, prompting a search of marine facilities. It had no AIS (tracking) system aboard.
- By the time the NSRI reached the yacht the cabin was partially filled with water. As a result it was extremely difficult to tow and had to be abandoned.
Samsa spokesperson Tebogo Ramatjie confirmed police were investigating and the yacht sank before Hansen’s body could be retrieved.
Pete Sherlock from the Ocean Sailing Association of Southern Africa said authorities were notified of the vessel’s unseaworthy status by the sailing clubs involved. The boat was ill-suited to the conditions expected on the voyage and sailed straight into a vicious storm with waves reaching up to 8m.
“That is the definition of any sailor’s nightmare — he was in some proper seas,” Sherlock said, adding the yacht nevertheless appeared to have rounded Cape Agulhas. He commended the NSRI for their efforts in challenging conditions.
Saldanha Bay Yacht Club commodore Steve McComb said Hansen was not a member but had purchased the vessel in Saldanha Bay and outfitted it from local suppliers. Club members had tried to convince him to abort the voyage and transport the yacht by trailer to Mossel Bay.
“We made him sign a letter saying he understood that the boat was unseaworthy and didn’t have all the legal requirements,” McComb said, adding authorities were then alerted.
It is unclear whether divers will attempt to recover Hansen’s body.
Hansen lost a leg in a motorbike accident more than 20 years ago and famously survived a previous yachting accident in 2014 when he was washed up, naked, on the rocks near Oyster Bay with his prosthetic leg smashed to pieces. He made a full recovery and continued his sailing career.
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