Coastguard – ‘Mayday’ not called for

The busy season for our local Coastguard Hibiscus volunteers is upon us. To make their job a little easier – and perhaps avoid embarrassment – it’s a good idea to get that annual service done on your boat, check the hull and fittings and, for those with trailer boats, check that the trailer is sound and the boat properly secure.The importance of this last check was brought home just last month when a Haines Signature broke free from its trailer and tried to navigate State Highway 11 in the Bay of Islands.More locally, October was a busy month for the crew at Coastguard Hibiscus, with a big increase in the number of callouts compared with the quiet winter months. Many of these were for mechanical failure, often due to problems that were avoidable with some preventative maintenance. Of course the unexpected can always happen, even with the best maintenance programme, and that’s where having a Coastguard membership can be a big help, providing some added peace of mind. Did you know that, while assistance is available to anyone in need 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, Coastguard members pay nothing at all for this assistance other than the $115 annual fee?

One recent callout is worth mentioning: a mechanical breakdown in the Tiri Channel, mid-morning, in slight seas, with the vessel at anchor. The sort of situation we encounter often, and are only too happy to help out in.

Importantly, no one was in any danger. What made this job a little different is that the call for assistance was delivered as a Mayday call – a distress call that is reserved for emergencies where there is “grave and imminent danger”. That is, the potential for loss of life. In this case, the true nature of the “distress” was quickly ascertained and the call was downgraded to a non-urgent one; Hibiscus Rescue 1 proceeded to their position and towed the boat back to the boat ramp at Gulf Harbour.This job serves to highlight the importance of knowing proper radio operating procedures, and Coastguard members can take advantage of discounts on courses such as the VHF Operators Certificate.This season we have a number of new recruits and two of our crew members, Mike Fisher and Grant Hanly, newly qualified as skippers so the unit is in a great state of health. The rescue vessels and crew can often be seen on the water training, every weekend day and occasional weekdays and nights. So be safe, be prepared with the proper checks and preventative maintenance, and be knowledgeable this summer out on the water. See you out there!