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Sealegs proves its worth
Our amphibious Sealegs rescue vessel proved to be the perfect asset one weekend recently. While Hibiscus Rescue One and our Sealegs, Hibiscus Rescue 2, were training off Stanmore Bay, a trailer yacht tried to go between Challenger Island and Kawau, with predictable results. A Pan Pan was put out and Hibiscus Rescue One and 2 and Kawau Rescue responded. The yacht was taking on water and listing to port with three people aboard, including a nine-month old baby. Hibiscus Rescue One was first on scene followed only a minute later by Kawau Rescue. By this time the yacht had beached just to the southern side of Kawau Island.
Due the proximity of rocks around the beach, and the fact the yacht was now on the beach, it was not practical to take either Hibiscus Rescue One or Kawau Rescue in. The Sealegs arrived and we transferred our pump and two crew aboard and drove ashore to assist with salvage, dropping the pump and crew off. The Sealegs then returned to sea and collected Kawau Rescue pump and another crewman as backup. The shore crew managed to pump out the water from the yacht, which had a big hole on the port side, and get it floating again. The hole was blocked by wrapping the hull with the sail. It was felt that if the yacht was abandoned on the beach, it would probably be destroyed overnight. The Sealegs then towed the yacht off the beach, out past the rocks and passed it over to Kawau Rescue to tow back to Sandspit.
Our amphibious vessel went ashore one last time, to collect the yacht owners belongings including their outboard motor. Hibiscus Rescue One then took the lady and baby back to Stanmore Bay while the Sealegs accompanied Kawau Rescue and the yacht to Sandspit. The yacht was grounded by the boat ramp to await its tow vehicle and trailer and the Sealegs went ashore and offloaded the yacht owners belongings. An excellent result that probably would not have been possible without the Sealegs.
Article by Nikki Latham, Hibiscus Coast Guard http://www.localmatters.co.nz/COLUMNS/ColumnsHib.html#coastguard
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