| Saturday 5th August Task – Assist a VMRW member with boat problems at Whitehaven Beach Crew – Stuart Applegate, Jim Dunn, Keith Millikan, Fin Forbes It started as a perfect day in Paradise, when Tom rang from the Radio Room looking for a crew to go out to help a fellow VMRW member with boat problems. We left APM at 1220hrs. The sea was glass and there was no wind. With Stu at the helm we headed past Hannah Point toward Hook Passage. You supposedly can’t get better than perfect – but seeing whales in Whitsunday passage made a perfect day even better. While in Hook Passage (at 1315 hrs), we got a call from Katherine in the Radio Room (doing the afternoon shift) to say we had been stood down – the vessel did not need our services any more. We turned VMR1around and headed back to base – arriving back in our pen (after refuelling and logging off with Hay Point VTS and our base) at 1420hrs. Total Time on job = 2 hrs Fin Forbes (VMR Skipper) |
 Changing of the guard |
| Tuesday 15th August Skipper: Mal Priday. Crew: Stu Applegate, Michel Del Aguila Task: Tow a 5.1m trailer boat that had lost engine power, Whitsunday Passage We had just arrived at the Marine Club for the AGM when Bill Harrison went outside to take a call on the VMR 24 hour phone. A vessel had broken down in the Whitsunday Passage opposite the Hook Passage, and was slowly being taken north by the going tide. Pausing long enough to grab a quick bite from the food provided for the AGM (the beef was great!) we made our way to the new Noosa Cat rescue boat, Abell Point Marina VMR1, for its first activation in anger. We departed Abell Point Marina at 7:15 pm and made our way into a very calm sea but a very black night – it was as dark as the inside of a cow facing north with it’s tail down! It was so dark we went around the outside of Pioneer Rock, the way to their north of North Molle and made our way across the passage. Stu had been in touch with the boat and apparently we were heading straight for him, a mile or so north of his reported position. We tied up alongside to complete the paperwork, then started to make our way back to Abell Point. The new boat handled the tow with ease at 15 knots and about 85 litres per hour. The boat was taken alongside off the leads at Abell Point and was deposited on the boat ramp pontoon by 9pm. Abell Point Marina VMR1 was put to bed, secured and paperwork was completed by 9:15. Thanks to Stu and Michel for giving up the AGM and their capable assistance. Time taken : 2 hours |
| Monday 28th August 1300hrs- received a call from Bill re callout to tow a member from South Molle to Port of Airlie ramp. Left Abel Point 1345hrs with Jim Dunn, Rod Wilson & Dewi Hughes as crew. Beautiful day – 0-10knots S/E winds. Arrived at Sth Molle & picked up and towed a 5m outboard powered fishing boat. Towed to Port of Airlie 17knots @ approx. 2350rpm. Dropped tow at boat ramp & went to Abel Point to refuel & moor VMR1. Off vessel 1630hrs. Geoff Fitzsimmons (VMR Skipper) |