Busy time for Marine Rescue

Marine Rescue Central Coast made a number of rescues in the Peninsula area over the New Year period.

The service's rescue boat Centaco 011, formerly known as Brisbane Water Lifeboat, responded to a call from a local resident at Ettalong around 2:30pm on Tuesday, January 3, about a yacht firmly stuck on a sandbank near Half Tide Rocks.

The 45-foot yacht with four people on board was reported as just to the south of the port channel marker on the northern side of Half Tide Rocks.

Duty skipper Hunter Leeder and his crewman Andrew Mackellar were able to move the yacht to navigable water and allow its crew to enjoy the rest of their holiday.

At 3:20pm, Centaco 011 was sent to Lobster Beach to assist a 24-foot half cabin launch with six people on board.

The boat had reported an electrical failure.

The rescue boat towed the vessel to its berth at Blackwall.

Another call was received at 5pm from the owner aboard a 4.3m runabout at Orange Grove that had a mechanical failure.

The four people on board asked for assistance to get the vessel back to Lions Park at Woy Woy.

As this task was being completed, the volunteer crew and Centaco 011 were assigned another task.

Another 4.3m runabout with two people on board had a mechanical problem and was aground near an oyster lease in Paddy's Channel.

This tow was picked up at about 5:35pm and taken to Lintern Channel at Davistown.

Media Release, 3 Jan 2011 Ron Cole, Central Coast Marine Rescue