Squadron member Richard Barron and his crew of his new yacht Willyama last week performed a daring rescue of a kayaker in trouble, in large seas, close to rocks off Ben Buckler.
Quickly reacting to a ‘Mayday’ call, and putting their own ‘man overboard’ drill into action, they disregarded the risk to themselves and retrieved the person from the water within 17 minutes.
The Coast Guard, who co-ordinated, logged and watched the rescue operation from their base at the South Head Signal Station, have commended Richard and his crew for their courageous and prompt response.
Willyama, a Beneteau 40.7, had almost completed an already incident-packed voyage from Melbourne to Sydney when, last Tuesday morning, 4 September, as she was sailing towards The Gap in rising seas and 25 knots of wind, the crew heard the Mayday call on VHF Channel 16.
A kayaker bound from Cronulla to Sydney Harbour, in training for a major race, had been hit by a large wave breaking over the stern. This snapped his kayak in two, throwing him into the sea.
By good fortune, the kayaker had a hand-held VHF radio and gave his Mayday call, which was also heard by the Coast Guard, in turn alerting other search and rescue organistions.
Immediately they heard the call, Richard and the crew of Willyama started a look out. They saw the remains of the kayak 100 metres from the rocks, with a large swell and backwash from the cliffs creating the familiar and dangerous “washing machine” effect.
Richard decided it was too dangerous to get any closer until they saw the kayaker in the water. “When you see a person in such danger, you stop thinking about the risks,” Richard said later.
Dropping their sails, and putting their “man overboard” drill into action, Willyama deployed its Lifeline equipment and circled the kayaker. He was aboard in minutes. Dressed only in shorts and life jacket, a longer period in the water would have quickly led to hypothermia.
But the drama was not over. On board Willyama, the kayaker told the crew that his brother had been following him up the coast in another kayak.
Richard quickly reported this to the Water Police, whose boat and a helicopter were now on the scene.
Willyama and her new passenger proceeded to the kayaker’s intended destination at Watson’s Bay where the missing brother was located. After reporting to the Water Police, Willyama proceeded to its berth at the Squadron.
The successful rescue operation capped an incident-filled voyage for the crew of Willyama.
Leaving Melbourne on the previous Friday night, “It is easier at night with the lights to show the way”, Willyama arrived at the tricky channel only to find the green channel lights out of action. This resulted in a grounding as the crew felt their way into the channel approaching The Rip.
Finally leaving Port Phillip for Bass Strait, the crew found themselves in a 30 knot westerly all the way to Westernport Bay, where fading breeze saw them motoring through the oil fields. South of Gabo Island, still with no breeze, but the fuel gauge showing a quarter tank, Willyama ran out of fuel.
As luck would have it, the Water Police, responding to a flare sighting (not Willyama) happened upon them and offered them a tow into Eden.
On Monday morning Willyama continued its journey to Sydney in a rising southerly wind. Monday morning found them just off The Gap, when they heard the Mayday call and in a drama at sea.
Richard and his crew of Willyama gave an fine display of seamanship and courage which may well have saved the life of the kayaker.
After a delivery trip like this, even Saturday racing on Sydney Harbour will seem quiet by comparison. – Brian Clayton and Peter Campbell
Close Window »
|
