Busy Australia Day for Marine Rescue

Australia Day was a busy day for Marine Rescue Central Coast.

Boat crews were busy from the moment they logged on for patrol.

Marine Rescue vessel Central Coast 21 and rescue watercraft jetski Central Coast 11 at about 9:20am by a group of people on a ski boat.

The boat was having some engine trouble and the occupants requested a tow back to Gosford ramp.

Central Coast 21, skippered by Mr Phil Page with crew Mr Kevin Sullivan and Ms Megan Loaney, towed them back to the ramp.

They continued their patrol along with Central Coast 11, operated by Mr Mitch Giles.

Both of our rescue vessels headed out into Broken Bay and returned to the base via the channel around St Huberts island.

Central Coast 11 was flagged down in the channel by the skipper of a runabout.

The outboard had been playing up in Woy Woy Bay.

The skipper decided to head back to his home on St Huberts when the outboard stalled just around the corner from his house.

Central Coast 11 set up the tow and got the runabout and skipper back home.

The rescue watercraft was being put back onto its trailer at around noon, when a call was received from a group of women on a rented barbecue boat.

The vessel was beached on Pelican Island.

Both Central Coast 11 and Central Coast 21 were sent to the incident.

The boat was not able to be pulled off the sand and the occupants were told that they would have to wait until the change of tide.

At 1:30pm, a call was received from a runabout in Woy Woy Bay, experiencing electrical issues and requiring a tow back to the ramp at Correa Bay.

Training boat Central Coast 13 with Mr Doug Fitzgerald as the master, and Mr Bob Gilbody as crew were dispatched and completed the tow.

Soon after their return, a 21ft ski boat at Maitland Bay reported its engine would not start.

Central Coast 21 was tasked with skipper Mr Page and crew Mr Fitzgerald and Mr Gilbody.

The vessel was towed to Lintern St ramp at Davistown at about 5pm.

Central Coast 21 finished the day taking over a tow to Gosford by Marine Rescue Broken Bay at the Rip Bridge which was completed at 5:45pm.

SOURCE:

Social media, 26 Jan 2021

Marine Rescue Central Coast

Photo: Kevin Sullivan