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Subject: TWL: Trawler Rescue
From: Sandy Floe (steamer@XXX.XXX)
Date: Tue Oct 02 2001 - 12:44:04 EDT
Recently there have been several messages written about the
boating disasters and the lives lost off the Washington coast this
season. Is it up to 12 now?
A couple of weeks ago a delivery captain was en route off this
coast to deliver a 42 foot trawler to Seattle. Off Cape Alava
(remember the story of the fish stealing sea lion named Waldo?----
same place), the engine died. His boat, the "Albatross," drifted
towards the off-shore rocks while Mr Morland tried in vain to start
the engine. He then called the Coast Guard for assistance. He put
on his Mustang suit, grabbed a handful of flares along with a hand
held VHF radio, and swam to Ozette Island. The boat went onto
the off-shore rocks.
Two lifeboats from Quillayute Station (La Push) along with a
helicopter from Port Angeles responded to the distress call.
The delivery captain was able to guide the rescuers to his location
using the flares and VHF. The lifeboats were unable to reach him
so he was pulled off by helicopter.
The reason that this wasn't a complete disaster was that he had
taken the time and spent the money for preparation in the event of
an emergency. He had at least a hand held VHF, a handful of
flares, and a Mustang suit. The other people who lost their lives in
this area had little or no equipment to use in an emergency.
We cruise and fish this area regularly and we also carry Mustang
suits, off-shore life jackets, a hand held VHF, 406 EPIRB, hand
held GPS, extra batteries, first aid kit, mirror, SOLAS flares,
floating strobe light, and a RIB dinghy with an outboard engine, in
addition to the USCG requirements.
Sandy and Dawna Floe
"Sea Eagle" (39 CHB)
Day Island, WA
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