Boat got caught in 'washing machine' area
2012-10-16 10:46
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Two people have died after a charter boat capsized neat Duiker Island off Cape Town’s Hout Bay coast over the weekend. See all the pictures.
Cape Town - Hout Bay boat operators said the weather was not extreme at the time a charter boat capsized at the weekend, according to a report on Tuesday.
"As far as the weather goes, it was safe to go out... It was a bit windy, but okay to go out," Nauticat Charters owner Brenda Owen told the Cape Times.
Ken Evans, whose craft 'Calypso' was operating on Saturday, said there had been a slight swell but the weather was nothing out of the ordinary.
'Extravagance' skipper Sean Amor confirmed the weather had been "fine" and with no swells.
He said the Miroshga got into trouble in an area known as the "washing machine", which was renowned for its choppy water.
The charter boat, carrying 39 people, capsized near Duiker Island on Saturday afternoon. British tourist Peter Hyett, 64, and crew member John Roberts, 37, drowned.
The accident had reportedly not deterred people from going on boat trips in the area, with operators telling the newspaper most trips on Sunday had been full and bookings were still coming in.
"Aircraft crash and people don't stop flying," Evans said.
A formal investigation into the incident was underway.
- SAPA
