Rescue services at sea in front of Norderney
As reported by the German Society for the Rescue of Shipwrecked People, the sailing yacht got stuck outside the fairway when approaching the sea channel (area between the islands) and got into the surf zone of the sandbanks:
Swell up to one and a half meters
With a swell of up to one and a half meters, the yacht was repeatedly thrown hard onto the sandbank. The woman alerted the sea rescuers via the VHF emergency and call channel 16.
Together with the daughter boat and the rescue cruiser, the crew of the "Bernhard Gruben" succeeded in pulling the yacht into deeper water and towing it to Norderney. The roughly twelve-meter-long boat should first be examined there for damage.
The sea route between the East Frisian islands Juist and Norderney is considered demanding even among experienced sailors. Accurate navigation is necessary because the fairways lead past dangerous sandbanks. Stranding in this area is extremely dangerous for the ship and its crew.
Due to natural dynamic processes, the fairways can shift constantly, which is why current information on the situation should be obtained before entering the sea channel.
Free help in the YACHT
YACHT article about sailing on sea mates
Navigating the seas is fraught with risks that are often underestimated and that should be known to anyone who is traveling in this area of the sea. The YACHT devoted itself to this topic in detail a few years ago.
Due to the current occasion, the article can be downloaded free of charge here.