CCGA Ken Moore Tasked to Find and Assist Vessel in Distress.

Chart plotter is of great assistance in finding vessel.

Thursday, September 3, 2009

The Coast Guard Auxiliary Unit 12 Halfmoon Bay was paged out shortly after 3:00 pm to assist a sail boat that had lost its rudder, and was situated approximately four nautical miles southwest of Merry Island in Georgia Strait. The fast response vessel Ken Moore slipped her moorings at her station in Secret Cove at 3:30 pm with a crew of five on board, and made her way southeast through Welcome Passage in four to five foot seas.
The distressed vessel, with two people and their dog on board, had given its location by VHF radio and the crew of the Ken Moore placed those coordinates into its chart plotter and was able to make good speed finding the vessel in difficulty, even though the sea and wind conditions were not optimal.

Communication was established with the sail boat and a towline was passed to her at approximately 4:00 pm. Because of the wind and sea conditions the decision was made to tow her astern, northwest, around the northern tip of North Thormanby Island. The tow was very uncomfortable for the towed vessel because the lack of a rudder meant that the boat had little tracking ability and was swinging from side to side while pitching up and down in the seas.  A drogue was set but had little effect.

At approximately 6:00 pm the boats were close to the entrance to Secret Cove and the tow astern was changed to an alongside tow to facilitate maneuverability in the confined waters of the harbour.

At 6:40 pm the sail boat was secured to the Buccaneer Marina fuel dock and ten minutes later the Ken Moore returned to its station and resumed normal operation. After debriefing, the crew was then able to proceed home for dinner.

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