Rescued ski boat ignores advice

Three men in a leaky ski boat assisted by Marine Rescue have ignored advice from the service to take their boat from the water at Ettalong, instead heading into seas of up to three metres in an attempt to return to Palm Beach.

Volunteers aboard the Marine Rescue Central Coast lifeboat assisted the men at Lobster Beach on September 18.

Publicity officer Mr Ron Cole said the marine rescue base received a phone call from a member of the public around 2.30pm seeking assistance for a speed boat sinking at Lobster Beach.

"Skipper of Central Coast Lifeboat Al Morris and his crew of Jim Robertson and Steve Finney were tasked to investigate," Mr Cole said.

"At Lobster Beach, they found a five metre ski boat, three men and six surfboards.

"The ski boat was beached but full of water.

"The rescue crew provided the men with a portable pump to enable to boat to be refloated. "The men indicated they had come from Palm Beach and it was their intention to return to Pittwater despite the two to three metre seas in Broken Bay and a leaky boat.

"The volunteer rescue crew suggested that they head for Ettalong ramp instead where there boat could be retrieved safely.

"The men handed back the pump, thanked the crew, then they gunned the 135HP outboard and headed straight out to Broken Bay crossing the bar at Little Box Head, where some waves were breaking due to the big seas.

"The rescue boat and crew were concerned so followed 'just in case' until the ski boat was seen to enter Pittwater."

Press release, 18 Sep 2010 Ron Cole, Marine Rescue Central Coast