Mid North Coast News MAKING WAVES
Emergency start for epic South Pacific trip Community cooperation comes to the rescue of sinking yacht
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s we head into the winter months, recreational boating activity has naturally slowed in Forster Tuncurry as it has for most other areas. Consequently our attention and activities have focused more to training, fundraising and maintenance – and as this article was written, Forster 30 was on the slipway in the middle of a week-long maintenance layup. One recent vessel assist in April does warrant a special mention in that it involved the urgent cooperation of multiple agencies and community support with no notice. It’s significant as this was achieved by the maintenance of good and current relations with all the parties concerned. On 24 April a call for assistance was received at 3.30pm from a visiting 8 metre sailing vessel with two people on board on the first leg of an epic trip sailing the South Pacific. The yacht was taking on water faster than it could be pumped out while sitting at a courtesy mooring off Tuncurry. Forster 20 was tasked to assist, and upon arrival rafted alongside the slowly sinking vessel in preparation to quickly move it to shallow water or the Tuncurry slipways if necessary. In addition to tasking Forster 20,
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Forster 30 on the slip getting a maintenance check.
necessary tools for a repair as well as SCUBA gear if required, and advised the slipway operators in case the slip was required. Community cooperation then abounded as local tour operator, Reel Ocean Adventures on their vessel Illusion and Surf Life Saving NSW assets, all of whom happened
This highlighted the importance of multiple agencies including Marine Rescue NSW, NSW Maritime, Surf Life Saving NSW and the local stakeholders having good relationships
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the base also contacted local NSW Maritime officers for their expertise. A leaking propeller shaft gland was identified as the problem, and once aware of this, the NSW Maritime officers arrived with the
to be on the water supporting a major paddling event, offered their assistance; with Illusion ferrying the NSW Maritime personnel and their equipment to the vessel and then standing by to render further
assistance if necessary. Accounts from the Marine Rescue NSW crew on board Forster 20 testify to the expert skills in rectifying the water leak from within the vessel, and ultimately preventing it from sinking. As the flooding was brought under control, Forster 20 released the rafting lines and all personnel and assisting vessels were stood down.
The take out from this highlighted the importance of multiple agencies including Marine Rescue NSW, NSW Maritime, Surf Life Saving NSW and the local commercial stakeholders having good local relationships knowing each other’s skill sets and being prepared to work closely with each other as required and on short notice to achieve great outcomes. Michael Portelli
CALLAGHANS
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