Sailors rescued as The Wizard sinks

The crew drifted on their life raft for more than seven hours before they were rescued. They are now on board the tanker EVA Schulte, sailing to Singapore. They will put ashore there, and then fly back to South Africa.

According to The Mercury report, skipper Gerrie Bosman and his crew were sailing from Reunion to Durban when their yacht struck a submerged container and began taking on water.

The sailors fired a distress signal at about 4.30am; it was picked up by the South African Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre, which then broadcast information to all vessels in the area and the EVA Schulte and Voge Felix both responded.

According to The Mercury report, these vessels reached the area at about 1pm. When the EVA Schulte got there, The Wizard had sunk and all five crew members were on the life raft.

For more:

• The Mercury: Crew rescued after hitting container
  
• SA Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre: . SA Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre