In the late afternoon of 14 April, a sailing yacht about 9 metres long with six people on board - two adults and four children - got stuck on a large sandbank between the Schluchter and Dovetief fairways, about a nautical mile north of Norderney. The skipper's distress call was received by the DGzRS Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre in Bremen at around 5.30 pm. The Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre (MRCC) immediately initiated rescue operations. The rescue cruiser "Eugen" from the Norderney station and, shortly afterwards, the rescue boat "Otto Diersch" from the Norddeich station were alerted and made their way to the distressed vessel.
Dangerous situation in the surf zone - sea rescuers on site in good time
The situation was precarious: in easterly winds with a force of 3 Beaufort and outgoing water, the yacht was in danger of leaking in the surf on the sandbank. Despite the difficult conditions, the sea rescue units managed to establish a line connection to the stricken yacht. In a coordinated operation, the rescuers were able to tow the boat free from the sandbank. The "Otto Diersch" then took over the distressed vessel and brought it safely to Norddeich harbour. The family of six escaped with a scare.
Accident hotspot off Norderney
The sea between Juist and Norderney is considered a challenging area even by experienced skippers. Boats repeatedly get into dangerous or even life-threatening situations off Norderney: Last year, for example, four Britons got stuck off the island in April and a Norwegian single-handed sailor in June. It is rare for an accident to go as smoothly as yesterday. Yachts often take on water in the surf and the situation can quickly become life-threatening.
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The fairways in this area can shift constantly due to natural processes. Their proximity to dangerous sandbanks requires the utmost attention and precise navigation along the buoy line. Particularly at the beginning of the season, it is also advisable to obtain up-to-date information on the situation before entering a sea inlet and to adjust your navigation accordingly. As a general rule, it is recommended that you never pass through the estuaries when the water is running out.
