[TWIAR] Ham, brawn and bravery save yachties

[Greg Williams]

http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/news/national/ham-brawn-and-bravery-save-yachties/2007/04/09/1175970998216.html


A radio ham on a mountain and three courageous water police saved two 
sailors stranded in wild seas off Newcastle.

The operation took 19 hours in five-metre high seas and strong winds 
after the propeller shaft of Bob Wilson's 14-metre ketch, Manunda - 
sailing from Queensland to Sydney - broke off and jammed against the 
rudder, leaving the vessel stranded  nearly 200 kilometres off the coast.

Harold Ralston, 62, from Comboyne, was in his shed about 6.30am on 
Friday when his 25-year-old radio, which he bought for $50 on eBay a 
year ago, crackled with a plea from Mr Wilson.

"I heard the boat calling for Foster Tuncurry Coastal Patrol, or anyone 
who could hear him, and he couldn't get a response," Mr Ralston told 
smh.com.au today.

He said he probably picked up the signal because he's 600 metres above 
sea level, whereas coastal patrols are at sea level.

"When I responded to him, I took his particulars and at that time he was 
still trying to fix the problem.

"I said, I'll come back every hour and call you to make sure you are OK."

After eight hours, Mr Wilson and his crew mate, Mike Ross, asked Mr 
Ralston to call rescuers.

Mr Ross said his first concern was that shipping in the area should be 
aware of the crippled yacht's position.

"We were lit up like a Christmas tree but we didn't want to get run down 
by a supertanker," he said.

He and Mr Wilson were also worried that if they couldn't repair or 
secure the broken propellor drive shaft it might disintegrate, causing 
water to flood into the boat.

Senior Constable Gavin Herbert and two crew from the Newcastle Water 
Police set out in the 17-metre police launch Intrepid just after 2pm for 
the gruelling voyage out to the stricken yacht.

"In layman's terms, [it was] horrible," Mr Herbert said. "We had up to 
five-metre seas, 30-plus-knot southerly winds and at times torrential 
rain. We were beam on the whole 100 miles out, which means being hit 
from the side by the swell. [It was] uncomfortable.

"I have seen worse, but we were put on an angle of greater than 30 to 35 
degrees on three occasions."

"We reached the boat about 10pm. It was pitch black and it was howling 
[but] the rain had stopped."

As the Manunda and the Intrepid seesawed on the heavy swells, a rope was 
tied between the two vessels and the Intrepid began towing the Manunda 
towards Port Macquarie.

The tow rope broke at least six times, forcing the two crews to 
repeatedly undertake the difficult and dangerous reconnection process 
throughout the night.

It was not until about 9am that the Manunda finally docked in Port 
Macquarie.

"It was very frustrating, very exhausting, but it's what you expect when 
you're in the Water Police," Mr Herbert said.

Mr Wilson, an experienced mariner who has sailed one and a half times 
around the world, told smh.com.au he would be recommending the Water 
Police crew for bravery awards.

He also wants to thank Mr Ralston for his efforts.

"I've got to meet this man, mate. Sitting up on the mountain with the 
best radio signal on the coast ... I'm going to shake his hand very 
solidly."

Had it not been for Mr Ralston's keen ears, Mr Wilson and Mr Ross could 
still be drifting helplessly in the Pacific, he said.

"The ultimate situation [was] we had enough water for 140 days, enough 
food for about 60. We would be a lot slimmer I suppose and we would 
probably have washed up on NZ."

-- 
Greg Williams
K4HSM
k4hsm at knology.net

http://www.twiar.org
http://www.etskywarn.net