Local NSRI volunteer hones skills abroad

Richards Bay NSRI coxswain Werner Smit is combining work with pleasure as he travels Europe.

January 10, 2017

Dave Savides 1 minute read

HOPING to get a crew position on board a super yacht, Richards Bay NSRI coxswain Werner Smit is combining work with pleasure as he travels Europe.

Werner, who has been a volunteer with the NSRI Station 19 at Richards Bay for the past six years, completed his yacht masters course last year and headed to France looking for work on the ocean waves.

While in France he met up with Megan Leenstra, another local who is au pairing in the area and they did the tourist thing, especially taking in the artistic scenario.

But his biggest adventure to date was being given the opportunity to meet with the local RNLI Rescue Station in Dublin, Ireland.

He was invited to participate in a training exercise at the Howth Life Boat Station, which has been launching rescue craft into Dublin Bay for nearly 190 years and has won 20 awards for gallantry.

‘We went out on a three-hour exercise involving navigation and working out the big tidal current and a passage plan,’ said Werner.

‘Close quarter helmsman manoeuvres and calculating distances from reflections on radar screens, as well as dealing with a first aid scenario of a suspected heart attack and concussion was also part of a great experience of being able to train with another international rescue organisation.’