The Gibsons unit of the Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue (RCMSAR) had a busy Easter long weekend with a number of calls.
The first call was a mayday call from the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC) in Victoria Thursday evening after a BC Ferry captain reported a small sailboat on the rocks.
Unit media liaison Julian Taylor said within 12 minutes four members of the Gibsons RCMSAR crew are on their boat and under way.
“The sailing boat is found just off Grace Island, by Gambier,” said Taylor. “No one was aboard, and the crew determined that the very high tide had caused it to lift its mooring, drift from near Armours Beach and ‘remoor’ itself in the shallower water near the Gambier shore. The vessel was determined to be in no danger and is no hazard to shipping, so the crew returned to base.”
On Friday night around 10 p.m., the JRCC called in again reporting that a singlehander on a small sailboat had lost his rudder, cannot start his engine and needs help.
“Three crew responded and were on scene within 25 minutes having found the boat to the south of Popham Island,” said Taylor. “The boat was taken in tow to Fisherman’s Cove in West Vancouver and the crew was back to base about 1:20 a.m.
On Saturday afternoon around 4:30 p.m., the JRCC called in reporting a kite boarder in distress in Davis Bay.
“Sunshine Coast RCMP were on shore and spotted a border in trouble having lost his kite,” said Taylor. “Our crew was under way within 15 minutes. The kite border was near the shore, but was not in need of help, but his expensive sail had blown far off downwind. With assistance from a helper on shore who had spotted it, the crew retrieved it between Trail Islands and the shoreline.”
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In other news, the Gibsons unit is currently raising funds for a new boat and has two fundraising events upcoming: a beer and burger night on May 9 at Persephone Brewery, and the Great Coastal Tool Sale on May 25 at Kinsman’s Hall.
— Submitted
