GEORGE NEWS & VIDEO - Former Yorkie, Vernon (Cubby) Deas, made headlines after he rescued the lives of three Frenchmen from St Martin, whose super catamaran sank off the coast of the Dominican Republice on 24 January.
The Cape Town yachtsman and fellow crew members Conrad Johannes; Nell du Toit; and the captain, Sascha Bading, responded to the US Coast Guard's request to go to their rescue while crewing the 16m yacht Ondine.
Deas jumped into the icy Caribbean seas swimming to the sinking JR2 super catamaran three times to haul the men off their boat. He was tied to his own vessel by rope and wore a floating device.
The rescue took place in pitch black darkness. Relating the dramatic events on a YouTube video, Deas explained how they had responded to the US Coast Guard's report that a distress signal had been received 5km from where they were situated, without hesitation.
"We spotted the JR2 distress light signal about 5 miles away. Once we arrived, the crew immediately notified the US Coast Guard that it was the sinking vessel and gave them the exact co-ordinates. After the rescue, the US Coast Guard arrived to take the men ashore," said Deas.
The Ondine is a brand-new 526 Balance catamaran from Nexus. She was on her way from Cape Town to Miami for a boat show with four crew on it, when she received the distress call to help. Deas said it was an honour for the crew of Ondine to be able to help fellow sailors in an emergency.
The men responded by thanking Deas profusely saying, "Hey man you saved our lives."
Deas is currently in Fort Lauderdale preparing Ondine for the forthcoming boat show.
Deas makes a living teaching people to sail and crewing on yachts. He built up valuable sailing experience sailing off the coast of Mozambique and has done a few long distance trips.
Deas's mother, Mientjie, nursed him back to health in 2014 after he broke his neck during an accident in Mauritius. He underwent a successful neck fusion operation in George.
Watch the rescue video below:
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