Anleys set sail again after shipwreck
Plettenberg Bay sailors, Cheryl and Graham Anley, have not been deterred by their unfortunate shipwreck experience off the Transkei Wild Coast last month.
The couple, whose vessel ran aground on August 4, two days after setting sail for Madagascar, are preparing to head off on a three-week sailing adventure along the coast of Greece on Friday, September 6.
The Anleys’ ordeal received much media attention when they and their Jack Russel Terrier, Rosie, were forced to abandon ship and swim ashore when their yacht, Boundless, hit rocks as a result of a storm during her maiden voyage.
They had set off into what had been predicted to be a light headwind, realising that they would need to motor some of the way so as to get ahead of the stronger South-Westerly wind forecast for later that week. Unfortunately the mild headwind picked up to 40 knots which meant that they were not making progress. They had taken the decision to return to port in East London, but never made it that far.
Cheryl explained that they had been sailing parallel to the coast, about 2km offshore. Once they turned around, they were then running with the wind. The power of the stormy seas with winds up to 40 knots and 5m swells pelted their vessel.
“There was a strong cross-current which was pushing the boat towards the shore and we had to keep fighting to keep out. At a point, although we had maintained the same heading, we realised that we were in the surf and hit the first rock,” said Cheryl. The boat was at that stage at the mercy of the surf, and ended up on more rocks somewhat closer to shore.
Although initial reports sensationalised the notion that Graham had first rescued the dog before rescuing his wife, the truth is that Cheryl is a capable woman who swam ashore just behind her husband who had set off first with their dog, Rosie, and then swam back toward the wreck to meet her halfway, once Rosie was safely on terra firma. They maintained their sense of humour about the absurdity of such reports.
The three spent the night on the beach shivering beneath space blankets that had been in their capsize bottle, which they had thrown into the water to be swept ashore when they abandoned the yacht.
They made the call to NSRI at first light once Graham had managed to swim back to the boat to retrieve a cellphone.They were unable to establish their exact location, but knew that they had recently passed Mazeppa Bay.
Within minutes, Geoff McGregor of the East London NSRI station called them back to say that their location had been established thanks to a local resident, Jeanne Bonello, who had seen their stranded vessel about six kilometres along the coast from her home and notified the NSRI.
Bonello and her daughter had packed tea, rusks and water and walked the six kilometres along the coast to where the Anleys were awaiting assistance. The NSRI chopper arrived at roughly the same time.
Cheryl was taken to the East London NSRI base where she was able to shower and get into town to purchase clothing and supplies, having lost all their belongings in the wreckage.
She collected their vehicle and drove back to Cebe where Bonello was hosting them at her home so that they could be near enough the wreck to attempt to salvage at least some of their belongings.
Rosie, will not be accompanying the Anleys on their Greek expedition. The land-loving canine will rather stay home with her canine companion, her son Spud. She had not left her masters’ sides since surviving the ordeal, but they began leaving her at home during the day this past week so that she would not be too traumatised by their sudden departure on Friday.
Cheryl said she was not afraid of returning to sea, although she certainly has no intention of sailing the tumultuous Wild Coast again. Despite losing many of their belongings, she recognised that they had been fortunate to escape with their lives.
“There are positives to take from every experience. We have met some amazing people who helped us during our ordeal. They have become good friends and we will be forever grateful for their kindness and assistance,” she concluded.
Source: Knysna-Plett Herald