MAKING WAVES Northern Rivers News
Fishing proves irresistible, even in pandemic Boating boom but few emergencies to trouble Evans Head crews.
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espite public health requirements to self-isolate, with fishing still permitted during the pandemic, boating out of Evans Head boomed. Mostly perfect conditions and an abundance of fish resulted in some of the busiest days of the year on the water. With fewer radio operators and adjusted operating days, MR Evans Head still was able to maintain a comprehensive coverage with help from our neighbours at MR Ballina. Thanks to the Ballina members for their support. With no formal Anzac Day ceremonies, the local fishermen hit the water early. Our radio base recorded 62 Log Ons and Ballina more than 70 in the first two hours. In spite of the large number of vessels on the water, we have only had a few calls for help, mostly to tow broken down boats to safety. In early May, we joined the search for missing Evans Head woman Amber Christie, scouring the coast from the Evans bar to the Department of Defence bombing range. There was no outcome from
Offshore rendezvous ... Ballina 30 (rear) approaches to take over the tow from Evans Head 30 of a disabled 36 foot steel sloop too large to cross the Evans bar. Photo: Bill Bates.
a week-long multi-agency search. On May 13, the crew of Evans Head 30 was tasked by MR Ballina to rescue a disabled vessel drifting close to the beach at the bombing range with three people on board. As the crew was towing the boat back through the bar, a transiting yacht drifting close to breakers at South Reef called for help. We quickly deposited the fishing boat at the ramp and headed south to locate the yacht.
The 36 foot steel vessel had no electrics, no radio and the skipper had no idea of his position other than “I’m south of the big headland, you can’t miss me!”. Once we explained how to access the Latitude and Longitude on Google maps on his mobile, we were able to locate him and take him in tow. The yacht’s draft was too deep to cross the bar so a rendezvous off Evans Head was arranged with the
crew of Ballina 30, who took over the tow for the next 12nm to Ballina. Thanks to crew members Ian Murray, Scott Mohr, Brad Burgess, Ray Thorpe and Bill Bates, radio operator Rohan Shanahan and our mates at Ballina. This spate of activity marked Ian Murray’s first shift as duty coxswain and also the welcome return of former Unit Commander and 25-year veteran Ray Thorpe as a crew member. Bill Bates
Brunswick first to deploy rapid rescue craft Rollover highlights benefits of new equipment and vision of bar.
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arine Rescue Brunswick is to become the first unit in the Northern Rivers region to add Rescue Water Craft to its fleet. The highly manoeuvrable assets will be a great benefit to the unit and local boating community, enabling a rapid and safe response to emergencies on and near the shallow and dangerous Brunswick bar, the river’s tributaries and waters around Cape Byron. Two RWCs have been deployed to the unit and an initial group of six trainees, who have extensive boating experience, have begun
24 MARINE RESCUE NSW | SOUNDINGS
their theoretical training via Zoom. Intensive on-water training sessions will follow before spring. A family of four was thrown overboard when their 6.5m open runabout rolled on the bar early on March 19. The two adults and two children were rescued by a local surfer before their boat washed up on rocks at the southern end of New Brighton Beach. As well as demonstrating the value of the rapid response RWCs, the incident highlighted the benefit of the CCTV camera to be installed to stream vision of the bar to local units.
A boater inspects his upturned boat after it rolled on the Brunswick bar. Photo: Barry McIntosh.
