Activation 1/5/2023: Medivac from Hamilton Island.
A gorgeous afternoon turned into a short chop on the way over, so we looked for calmer water in Fitzalan Passage to make the trip more pleasant for our passengers.
On entry to Hamilton Island Marina we noticed the internal beacon green backing had been rotated a little so as not to obscure the green light. An improvement for our night time entries.
It being quite a low tide, passage in the marina was shallow at times. Berthing at our usual spot was complicated by a helpful passer-by who tied our mooring line to the dock cleat. With an unusual blow off the line tightened up, but Donna got the issue sorted and all was well.
Contrary to earlier information our patient was not “jolly” and we were keen to get her back to the mainland asap. A following sea and Donna on the helm made this possible.
We pulled into our home berth to disembark our passengers at 1558. We were refuelled and all packed up by 1640.
Thanks to our very efficient crew.
Crew: Michel A (Senior Crew), Donna D and Phil H.
Skipper: Shane N.
Activation 5/5/2023: Medivac to Hamilton Island.
A very pleasant Airlie autumn morning was punctuated by Michael on the emergency phone. “Got a medevac to Hammo for you” seemed like a perfect excuse to get out of cleaning the pool. So off we set.
A 25 knot SSE made Whitsunday Passage a bit sloppy. Our crew ribbed Donna for finding every pot hole, but she did a very good job with the helm.
At entry to Hamilton Island marina we had to negotiate with a large very slow moving cat and a big barge. Fortunately our new bright flashing light did its job and they waved us ahead. A definite blow off provided no problem for berthing as our crew were very efficient with their line work.
Donna “manned” the helm out of the marina and took us home with the wind for a smooth crossing. She handed over to me just in time to miss the crew coming onto the bridge to complement the helmsman. Grumble, grumble!
Disembarking our passengers onto L10 against a definite blow off was assisted by a brilliant line throw by Donna that won crew applause.
Then we were refuelled and packed up by midday.
Thanks to our Crew: Michel A (Senior Crew), Donna D, Terry C.
Skipper: Shane N.
Activation 6/5/2023: Vessel aground near Dingo Beach 7 POB
13:16 Saturday 6th, I (Ken) received a call From Johnny one of our dedicated Radio operators. “We have an 11-metre cruiser with 7 POB and a dog that has touched the bottom near Dingo Beach, can you assist?”
“Yes”, was my answer. “Do you have a Lat/ Long for me”. Johnny suggested she give me their phone number so I could get the details. Okay, please call our crew. Minutes later I had another call from Johnny telling me that the vessel was now aground as their anchor had not held.
13:50 Coral Sea Marina VMR 1 departed with 4 crew. The wind was from the SE approx. 15 knots. I called the vessel to ascertain their position. There was some discussion amongst their crew. I asked if they could see Gloucester Island. No, was the unanimous answer. I suggested he use his phone to locate where he was. Some time passed and the answer was given. Yes, we can see Gloucester Island. Are you on the Airlie Beach side of the island? Yes!
14:40 We could see the stricken vessel right in the middle of several hundred metres of coral/rock. VMR 1 had no chance of getting within 400 to 500 metres of this vessel. With James on the helm Donna, Brie and I launched our tender. Donna and I were to approach the vessel by tender, leaving James and Brie on standby.
When we arrived at the stricken vessel it was very obvious that this vessel was not going anywhere as the tide was to fall for the next two hours. Their anchor chain was running from the bow along the side towards their stern. I asked, how far is your anchor out?
The skipper pointed to the vessels beam and said, just there. To my amazement there was his anchor about 9 metres from his bow. No wonder it dragged. Do you have any more anchor rode? Yes. Okay get it out. Donna and I proceeded to transport the chain and anchor as far to windward as it would reach. I returned to their vessel to collect a second anchor. To this, I joined more chain and all VMR1’s spare lines. I then took this with our tender, walking it out to near where Donna was waiting.
Now with the vessel securely anchored we returned to the stricken vessel, only to find they had not secured their tender and it was now blowing towards the Gloucester passage. Donna Radioed VMR 1 with instructions to retrieve the tender once it was safely in the passage.
Meanwhile Donna and I loaded two of the female passengers and their dog into our tender and walked them towards VMR1. VMR 1 met with us in deeper water and we transferred our passengers so we could return for three more. The water was so shallow that motoring was out of the question. Fancy a walk, Donna! We did. We loaded three more female passengers for transfer to VMR1.
The two male crew decided they were not leaving their vessel. I suggested they keep a sharp eye on the tide and for any ingress of water. Please, give us a call when you are floating.
They were sure once the tide came in, they would be fine.
One rudder was bent. The vessel was sitting on her props. One engine was not working. What could possibly go wrong.
19:45 I get the call. We are floating and everything is okay, we do not require assistance. I had previously informed my crew to be ready for retrieval at 20:00
I explained to the Vessel skipper that entering Port of Airlie with a disabled rudder, on one motor, in the dark, would be rather ambitious, considering this was his first time out on his new vessel.
I mentioned that my crew were to be ready at 20:00. It was now 19:45. Try your vessel, if you need help, we will be here until then. Fifteen minutes later the phone rang. The last remaining engine has failed and our assistance was now required. Are you secure on anchor? What depth are you in?
21:45, with Paul on the helm VMR1 came along side to secure our tow-line. James, Donna and Brie did a fine Job in the conditions. 23:50, Paul placed our tow along side, in Port of Airlie. Many thanks were given on a great outcome.
23:55, we refuelled, washed down and headed for home.
PS…did I mention vessel navigation lights? I guess I couldn’t see any to mention.
Thank you to my crew. There were many challenges to overcome.
On leg one:
Senior Crew; James R, Comms; Donna D, Crew; Brie S.
Leg two night:
Assistant skipper; Paul M, Senior Crew; James R, Comms; Donna D. Crew; Brie S.
Skipper: Ken B
Activation 10/5/2023: Members 36’ Steber broken down 7.5 miles North of Double Cone, 1 pob.
Ray, our 24hr phone holder called at 10.05. A member had broken down North of Double Cone and needed a tow. No problem, my wife would return soon with the car and I can get to the boat. When I arrived at Coral Sea Marina VMR1, Terry was right behind me and Shane and Aivars had the boat ready to go.
Shane drove us out of the Marina at 10.45 and headed North. The seas were very sloppy as they were pushed up by 30 knot S’Easter. As we passed Double Cone into deeper water the seas got larger but had an easier spacing, but they were still as confused and the surfing was fun.
As you may have guessed, when we got to the Lat. and Long. given, all we found was an empty sea. Rats! Because the co-ordinates and position given were very close, I was confident we were going to the right place… I was wrong. The first rule is, you confirm the latest position with the target as you travel, I didn’t. Next, we find that we couldn’t get the Target on the radio or phone but fortunately, Hay Point VTS was able to relay, and we got what we were assured were the correct co-ordinates. North of Gloucester and East of Middle Island near Black Current Island!! what? Right, a bit more checking as the co-ordinates were North of Gloucester and North Gloucester is East of Middle Island so maybe that’s OK, even if they can’t be anywhere near Black Current which is 10 miles away at Dingo Beach.
We arrived at the target at 13.20 and as the seas were way too rough to get close, we passed the tow via the heaving line and headed off to CSM. Within 5 mins the towline pulled the towing bollard off the Stebers foredeck, so we had to recover everything, including the heaving line, in the horrible sea, and start again. Happily, our catamaran bridle reached to his forward mooring cleats, and we set off again. This time down the west side of Gloucester hopefully into quieter water then we went through Gloucester Passage without a drama.
We carried on towards CSM, finding a lee wherever we could and even increased speed to 9 knots a couple of times. We did notice that the sand bar on the SE corner of Grassy wasn’t shown on our plotter. If we had followed (in the dark) the Eastern side of the deeper channel shown on the plotter we would have stopped, suddenly.
When we got to the moorings on the Eastern side of the Muddy Bay channel, we had the Steber alongside and put it on his mooring. We learned that the Steber had filled his fuel tanks at Bowen and just short of Gloucester both engines lost power and blew a lot of black smoke. We also noted that the bollard had only been an ornament as it had been held in place by 4 self-tappers.
After completing the paperwork, we headed off to the fuel dock then back to the pen for a washdown and tidy up at 18.15. A long activation that had been expected to be 3 hours or so long, so all the crew were in trouble. Despite that, Shane drove the boat well, Terry was his normal good humoured self and our trainee Aivers acquitted himself well and, he said, learned a lot. Thanks to you all for a job well done and your persistence. Oh yes, we got through a few of the nibbles.
Crew: Shane N, Aivars P, Terry C.
Skipper: Geoff S.
Activation 19/05/2023: 7 metre vessel broken down with 8 POB
It was Friday night 18:10, when my emergency phone was calling me.
It was Michael, our dedicated 24hr emergency phone holder.
“We have a 7mtr vessel broken down with 8 POB, can you assist?”
It was decided that I would take Whale Song VMR2. Michael set about contacting my crew.
18:40 VMR 2 departed her dock with Donna, James and I (Ken)
onboard. Michael had forwarded the vessels co-ordinates to my phone.
The sea conditions were great, VMR2 was slicing through the water beautifully.
18:55 we had located our target, right where they were supposed to be! We pulled along side for the mandatory paperwork. There we found grandparents, parents and 4 children. The children were down below watching a movie completely oblivious to the drama of breaking down.
James and Donna secured the tow line. I then asked the skipper, (Grandpa), to pull up his anchor. Well, that was not met with approval from below. The children were objecting to that dreadful noise of raising the anchor. They could not hear the movie!
19:00 we departed for Coral Sea Marina boat ramp. 19:30 we departed for our dock with many thanks from all.
Thank you to my crew, a very tidy mission.
Senior Crew: James R. Comms: Donna D.
Skipper: Ken B.
Activation 20/05/2023: Members 6.7m poly craft with 4 POB broken down in Double Bay…and also…know how to use your lifejacket – it could save your life.
I, (Ken) had a call from the radio base at 11:00 “We have a 6.7m poly craft with 4 POB in Double Bay, can you assist?” Okay I am on my way, we will use Whale Song VMR2. Please call my crew.
11:30 we departed with James, Phil and I on board. With a very slight sea it was a good run on VMR2 to Double Bay. There we found our target fishing with no engine power.
James and Phil set up our tow line and we were ready to head off.
I suggested that our target vessel crew should done their life jackets. Well, all sorts of PFD’s were retrieved from the lockers…now to put them on…there was a battled to untangle these vests and do them up. I mentioned to them, imagine if your vessel was actually sinking. This is something every person on a vessel needs to experience. Quality of PFD, is your life saver. DO NOT buy CHEAP…Sorry for the rant 🙃
14:15 we had the vessel at the VMR Ramp all safe and sound.
Thank you to my Crew: Senior: James R, Comms: Phil H.
Skipper: Ken B.
Activation 21/05/2023: Medivac Hamilton Island
Phone holder Michael set off the Help ringtone just after 1830, “was I available for a medivac from Hamilton Island?” No problem, but the dinner Linda had literally just put on would have to wait, and he got busy putting together a crew of James, Mike and Donna. We had to wait a few minutes for our paramedic, then Coral Sea Marina VMR1 departed at 1930 into a brisk and cold SE wind of 17-20 knots against a rising tide. Visibility was good on a clear but moonless night, but VMR1 handled the conditions well as usual, and 55 minutes later we were alongside what has almost become our home away from home, on Hamilton.
After boarding the patient, who was obviously in a fair bit of pain and discomfort, we started back to Coral Sea just 5 minutes later, running with the chop and swell back through Unsafe Passage and fell in behind the Cruise Whitsunday ferry on its way back from Daydream. We had an image on the radar of a vessel making slow progress past Pioneer Rocks with its steaming lights on as well as its anchor light on top of the mast – a bit confusing as it had its sails up as well. We followed the ferry past it and around the outside before docking on L10 to help disembark our patient and the paramedic at 2130, moved over and refuelled before James took us back to our own berth for the usual washdown, systems off and paperwork. On the way home for a late dinner at 2200.
Thanks Donna, Mike and James, it was easy to tell you had done this a few times before!
Crew: James R, Donna D, Mike D
Skipper: Mal P
22/5/2023: Back on the water for a Medivac from Hamilton Island.
A welcome call from our phone holder Michael after a bit of a dry period for call outs and this was a rare daylight medivac too.
We set off into a surprisingly calm sea for a 25 knot south easter, but it turned a bit nasty in Whitsunday Passage where the full effect of that 25 knots became apparent. We moderated it a bit by taking the waves on the starboard bow at 15 knots until we could get into Fitzalan Passage for a smooth run into Hamilton Island.
Our regular berth was supposed to be clear for us but turned out to be occupied by a large yacht, so an alternative had to be found. A check of all masthead wind vanes indicated a definite south easterly in the back of the marina. Strangely at sea level it was a definite northerly. Not a blow off as expected but a definite blow on. Interesting at the helm.
Our patient was a walk on, so we were quickly on our way. The voyage home with the wind and sea at our back was quite comfortable.
We were surprised by Phil’s keen observation of a vessel with its anchor light on well out from Coral Sea Resort anchorage, but its AIS symbol was pointing north west, so anchored by its stern? Turned out to be making way very slowly to the marina.
Then another surprise as our radar gave birth to a twin. A second vessel was sitting very close to the first then moved away in the opposite direction with no lights on except a dim internal. Anyway thanks to Phil alert to the radar we passed by at a safe distance.
Incorrect lighting seems to be a bit of a thing.
A rapid turn around disembarking our passengers on L1, refuelling and around to our home berth, we were all done by 1900.
Thanks to a magnificent effort by our Crew: Bill H as senior crew, Mike D and Phil H.
Shane N, Skipper du jour.
Activation report 23/05/2023: Medivac from Hamilton Island.
About 1440 while I was busy on a project in my workshop the 24/7 phone holder rang to advise of a medivac from Hamilton Island. I told him to organise a crew, while I packed away the tools and went to Coral Sea Marina where a crew of Michel, Bill and Phil would be arriving. After our QAS officer was onboard, Michel took us out of the marina at 1515 and off to Hamilton Island we went. With the wind at nearly 30 knots and an outgoing tide we knew it was going to be rough.
At 1610 we arrived at Hamilton Island to pick up a stretcher patient and his wife and then headed back to CSM with Phil on the helm. It was a smoother ride home with South East winds, back at CSM we waited for another QAS officer to arrive before transferring the patient to another stretcher. We then refuelled and returned to our base for paperwork and a wash down.
Job completed at 1825, Thanks to Bill, Phil and Michel.
Crew: Bill H, Michel A, Phil H.
Skipper: Ray L.
Activation 25/05/2023: Member – “motor won’t start”
This is a story that is a little sad, but with a happy ending.
Have you ever paid for work to be done, and not been sure of the result.
So, a call for assistance from a local member goes to our 24hr emergency phone holder, giving his position, vessel details, p.o.b including the dog, the nature of his distress, and his current stress levels.
As volunteer crew, we stop what we are doing, put on the uniform, proceed to Coral Sea Marina, do our pre-start checks and head out on Coral Sea Marina VMR1 to do what we can to help.
This was a ‘Motor won’t start’ scenario, may-be flat batteries on a 50 foot yacht, so we double check our jump-starter unit on the way, could it be that easy?
20-25 knots of South-Easterly in the passage, but not much tidal range, so the journey wasn’t overly bouncy and we had rafted up beside their yacht within an hour of casting off. Then the paperwork and try out the jumpstarter connected to the engine battery, [we couldn’t find a bridging switch to join the house batteries in to the system]…no-go…Hmmmmm.
Okay, so lets connect directly to the starter motor to bypass all the cabling. We remove the appropriate engine cover, and here we see a main charger cable is disconnected from the alternator and taped over. When following this cable for all of it’s 400mm length we see that it has also been disconnected from the cable feeding the engine battery and starter motor.
This couple were on their first shake-down cruise after having a brand new motor fitted to their yacht.
Happy ending! The motor now started first try, the owners could operate under their own power, even the dog was happy.
A quick motor back to the fuel dock for us, then the usual paperwork and wash-down ready for our next activation.
Thanks to the volunteer crew of Mike and Phil for their generous gift of time and experience, great work once again.
Crew: Mike D, Phil H.
Until next time, your Skipper: Ron R.
Activation 28/5/2023: Medivac from Hamilton Island
I was watching a Morgan Freeman movie that was getting very interesting when phone holder Michael set off the Help ringtone around 2010- we were required to do a medivac from Hamilton Island. The movie will have to wait, and Michael put a crew together of James, Donna and Mike while I was on my way in.
After prepping the boat and doing our startup checks, Mike helped the paramedic down to the boat with her gear, and with James on the helm Coral Sea Marina VMR1 was underway at 2050. We enjoyed light SE winds of about 10 knots on a flat sea, under a bright half moon on a chilly night by Whitsundays standards (it was under 20 degrees) – I had 3 layers on!
After an uneventful trip across James had us berthed in what has become our normal berth at Hamilton at 2155. 20 minutes later, after setting up our onboard stretcher and helping our patient get from the Hamilton paramedic’s stretcher to ours, we were under way with our patient and her partner, helped along by the outgoing tide.
VMR1 was alongside at Coral Sea Marina at 2315, where we met up with another paramedic and helped our patient across onto their stretcher, helped them up the ramp (it was low tide), moved over and refuelled, then it was back to our berth for the wash down, paperwork and to secure VMR1 ready for the next activation.
All done, and on the way home at 2350. Breathalysed on the way home, driving around in the middle of the night in Airlie you get what you deserve if you have had too many – but I did tell the officers that we are zero on the boat! No problem, but glad I had just renewed the registration earlier in the day!
Nice competent helming James, and excellent back up by Donna and Mike .
Crew: James R, Donna D, Mike D
Skipper: Mal P.
Activation 29/5/2023: Medivac from Hamilton Island.
Arriving along with our paramedic, we found our trusty mechanic completing repairs to the cooling system on Coral Sea marina VMR1 port engine. Having seen what happened recently when the starboard engine tried to eat its fan belts, this was a welcome preventative.
Then James arrived straight from work, very much appreciated given he wasn’t on the MEC, (our crew availability app).
We departed on a gorgeous afternoon shortly after 1700, with James on the helm. Some skilled navigation across Whitsunday Passage smoothed out the 20 knot SE sea for a totally uneventful voyage.
On arrival just after dark we were surprised to see a large cat at anchor just outside the marina entrance. Of course it was just pretending with its anchor light on. Then out of the gloom we picked up the sails of a vessel approaching with no lights at all! Good work FLIR.
Entry and berthing were handled expertly and turn around was fast. I helmed departure and home, a totally uneventful trip except for the ghost ship still sailing around in Dent passage.
At Pioneer Rocks we were confused by very bright lights coming from Northerlies, maybe a party? Then the AIS of a quite large private vessel appeared on the plotter. It was lit up like a xmas tree!
Disembarkation of passengers, then refuelling went smoothly and we were all finished by 2000.
Thanks to Senior Crew James R, Mike D on Comms and Craig B as Crew.
Skipper: Shane N.
Activation 31/5/2023: Medivac from Hamilton Island.
A rare mid morning medivac to Hamilton Island saw us heading out into a freshening 25 knot southeasterly. Across Whitsunday Passage had us down to 12 knots aiming at the southern end of Cid Island to get a comfortable angle on the quite steep swells. Fitzalan Passage was nicely protected as usual and we made up some time.
Thanks to the Island barge for letting us in ahead of them. Our efficient crew made berthing on G arm a breeze in spite of some unusual gusts coming through.
After setting up the stretcher for our patient, we were promptly on our way. The trip home was as usual quite comfortable with the wind and sea at our back and it wasn’t long before we were entering Coral Sea Marina. Thanks to Solway Lass for letting us go in ahead of them. Our bright yellow flasher is paying off.
We were refuelled and packed up within the usual 3 hour time frame. Thanks to a sterling effort by our Crew: Dick F and Donna D.
Skipper: Shane N.