Cellphones not enough

Hibiscus Rescue 2 was recently paged out to a 14’ runabout whose occupants thought they were 500m off Orewa beach and had phoned family, who had phoned police, who had alerted Coastguard to a mechanical problem on the boat. It was windy, raining and dark with poor visibility (the Sealegs’ main spotlight could only illuminate about 20m ahead). Sole communication on the runabout was cellphones, with the batteries going flat.

A policeman on Orewa beach, joined by Coastguard Hibiscus shore crew, had them flash a cellphone towards the shore and took a bearing on that facing his car headlights towards the water and using his red and blue flashing lights to help the people on the boat find his position. He got them to give him a bearing of their position relative to his lights also. Further questioning of the people onboard ensued by cellphone, including whether they could see either the red (port) or green (starboard) lights of the approaching Sealegs, more relative positions were taken and then, on another cellphone, the policeman directed the Sealegs towards the vessel, which was actually found to be off Hatfields Beach.

From this it should be obvious that taking more than one form of communication on board a vessel does not mean multiple cellphones. A VHF radio and flares would have led to a speedier rescue. Even if you do not intend to be out after dark, prepare for this possibility. Appropriate navigation lights, safety equipment including life jackets, flares and a torch, plus warm clothing are essentials.

Docking system a New Year’s gift
This month American businessman P. Kevin Jaffè has gifted a Jet Dock berth docking system to the Hibiscus Sea Rescue Trust. Mr Jaffè and his wife, Teresa, have been regular visitors to NZ for many years. Their motor yacht Amante was based at Gulf Harbour Harbour Marina and its Captain, Adam Belshe, often crewed for Hibiscus Sea Rescue. Trust Administrator Les Sharman says the gift could not have come at a better time, as plans are well advanced to replace Hibiscus Rescue One with a larger, purpose built Naiad rescue vessel later this year.

The present dock is too small to accommodate the new vessel but the Jet Dock system enables the rescue vessel to be raised out of the water at its berth, minimising corrosion and marine growth, saving maintenance costs, and allowing it to be quickly lowered for operational duties.

Image: Hibiscus Rescue One crew practice berthing techniques on the new dock.