Two Sailboats and a Marker Buoy for Unit 12

Three Taskings in One Day for CCGA-Pacific Unit 12 Halfmoon Bay

Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary Pacific - Unit 12 Halfmoon Bay was busy again this week.  At 12:35 PM on Friday, August 8, the 'Ken Moore' was called out to assist a 24' sailboat with a jammed rudder and non-functioning engine about two miles off the dock in Halfmoon Bay.  The rescue boat arrived on the scene at 1:10 PM but could not immediately find the vessel in distress. The sailboat was finally found and taken under tow.  Meanwhile, the 'Ken Moore' was tasked to assist a 50' sailboat that had apparently dragged her anchor very close to the rocks in Secret Cove.  The disabled sailboat was then passed to the water taxi 'Grackle' while 'Ken Moore' went to assist the sailboat in Secret Cove.  Once the crew had assessed the situation they were then tasked to go back to the 24 foot sailboat at the time undertow by the Grackle and to take over the tow and to take the stricken vessel to the dock.  With this accomplished the crew then went back to the 50 foot sailboat on the rocks and assisted the water taxi by fastening on to the anchor rode so the vessel could be dragged to deeper anchorage and the anchor reset.  

The Halfmoon Bay crew was paged out again at 9:05 PM as a woman had phoned the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre to report a lone person in a small car-top type boat off the Trail Islands who seemed to be in trouble and was attempting to seek assistance.  The 'Ken Moore' left its base in Secret Cove at 9:30 PM and arrived at the Trail Islands at approximately 10:00 PM.  A Canadian Coast Guard hovercraft was also on the scene.  The rescue boat's crew spotted a small boat with a single occupant and went over to it to ascertain the problem, if any.  The gentleman was tied to the channel marker between the islands and advised the crew that he had found it and was taking it home as a souvenir.  He had the marker buoy tied to his motor and was rowing vigorously.  

The crew pointed out to him that the marker was fixed firmly to the ground and that it was unlikely that he would be able to take it anywhere.  At 10:15 PM, the chap let go his line on the buoy and left at high speed.  It was well past dark and rain was beginning to fall.  The 'Ken Moore' went after him using search lights and followed him to a dock where the crew helped him out of his boat and assisted him in tying it up.  Once they received assurances that there would be no more expeditions in search of souvenirs that evening, the crew of the Ken Moore returned to base at 11:05.

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