Rescue for sinking vessel

Marine Rescue Central Coast was called to a capsized and sinking vessel at the northern end of Ocean Beach on Saturday, January 30.

The volunteer on duty in the radio room at Marine Rescue Central Coast, Mr Bill Schwartz, received a phone call at around 3pm from Ocean Beach Surf Life Saving Club.

The caller reported a capsized and sinking vessel on the offshore sandbar at the northern end of the beach.

The surf club's rubber duck had saved on person and a dog and there were three others in the water.

Mr Schwartz contacted Mr Ian Radford and his crew aboard Central Coast 22 who were undertaking a training exercise around Lobster Beach.

The rescue boat was quickly at Ocean Beach and able to take the rescued person and dog aboard.

They learned that the other three persons were safe ashore, so ran the rescue boat in close to shore to enable those persons to join their companions on the rescue boat.

The local Roads and Maritime Boating Services officer overheard the radio calls and joined the surf club and Marine Rescue at the site.

He agreed to attempt salvage of the sinking craft and if possible tow it to the Pretty Beach Ramp while Marine Rescue took the rescued people to their car and trailer at Blackwall Ramp.

The vessel was towed to Pretty Beach but it sank again near the ramp.

The owners were provided with details of salvage operators.

At about 3:10pm, Mr Schwartz received a VHF marine radio call from a 9.5m yacht in Broken Bay with four people aboard.

The owner reported a mechanical problem.

He had no forward gear, and sought assistance crossing the bar at Little Box Head and getting back to the mooring at Ettalong.

Mr Schwartz tasked offshore rescue vessel Central Coast 21 to assist.

Mr Bob Sullivan and his crew soon met the yacht and took it in tow for the bar crossing.

By 4:20pm, the yacht was safely back on its mooring at Ettalong.

Media release, 31 Jan 2016

Ron Cole, Central Coast Marine Rescue