In the late afternoon of 14 April, a sailing yacht around 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 as the water was running out. The skipper's distress call was received by the DGzRS Maritime Rescue Co-ordination 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
The situation was precarious: in easterly winds with a force of 3 Beaufort and outgoing water, the yacht was in danger of foundering in the surf on the sandbank. Despite the difficult conditions, the rescue teams managed to establish a line connection to the damaged yacht. In a coordinated operation, the rescuers were able to tow the boat free from the sandbank. The "Otto Diersch" then took over the shipwrecked vessel and brought it safely to Norddeich harbour. The family of six escaped with a scare.
Accident hotspot off Norderney
The sea inlet between Juist and Norderney is considered a challenging area even among experienced sailors. Yachts repeatedly get into dangerous or even life-threatening situations off Norderney: Last year in April, for example four Brits off the island, in June a Norwegian single-handed sailor. It is rare for an accident to go as smoothly as the one that happened yesterday. Yachts often suffer a mast or water ingress in the surf, and the situation can quickly become life-threatening.
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 navigating in the estuary 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.
