Tuesday, March 25, 2025

March 5, 2015

This Chap Was Found A Mile Off Cape Town Shore – Rowing A Kids’ Blow-Up Dinghy With A Rake

It seems someone may have got the bad acid. The NSRI was left more than a little bemused when they found a man using a somewhat alternative mode of sea travel.

You know when you’re at a jol, you dish out the party supplies and one guy seems to be having way more fun than anyone else…well, that is this guy.

I imagine over the years the NSRI in Cape Town have seen their fair share of the weird and wonderful but this has to be right up there. The rescue team was left confused when reports came in Tuesday evening of a lone paddler a mile off of Green Point taking a rather unique approach to nautical travel. This from Traveller24:

The bemused Police and NSRI Bakoven rescuers said the man had been paddling on a tiny “swimming pool inflatable dinghy” and using a “garden rake” as an oar, 1 nautical mile off-shore of the Mouille Point Lighthouse.

The man was questioned on the scene but “he appeared to be unable to answer questions”. He was taken in for safekeeping as the authorities feared he might decide to go back into the sea.

The man was towed in by a private boat company after initially refusing assistance from a sightseeing charter boat.

We should point out that swimming pool inflatable dinghies do have their uses. They make great pet flotation devices, as Seth illustrates so perfectly with his prize choc labrador Lacoste.

When you find yourself a nautical mile offshore, using a rake as a paddle, you may need to rethink your game plan.

It’s cool buddy, just return to your tent. The dancefloor will still be there in the morning.

[source:traveller24]