A 4.7 metre rescue craft, donated by the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) to the Lawhill Maritime Educational Trust (LMET), in Simon’s Town, has been named “Sean Day”.
South African born, American-based Mr Day is known for his generous contributions to high-school-based maritime education in South Africa, according to LMET trustee Dave Murray.
The rescue craft was originally donated to the NSRI many years ago by a family who lost their son, along with two other teenagers, at sea.
It will now be used to provide high-school pupils with motorboat-handling skills and an official qualification while they’re still at school.
The Sean Day will be based at False Bay Yacht Club in Simon’s Town. It would be used to enhance the skills of maritime students who had undergone personal survival training provided by the NSRI in association with the SATS General Botha Old Boys’ bursary fund, Mr Murray said.
Acquiring small-boat-handling skills and a skipper’s ticket while at school also potentially increased the students’ post-school employment prospects, particularly in the marine tourism and related sectors, Mr Murray said.
