19/05/2023
A wild night at sea!! Read the report written by one of the skippers-Wayne Barnard:
VMR North Stradbroke was activated by the Queensland Water Police at 10.15pm (2215 hrs) on Wednesday the 18th May 2023 in response to a report of a yacht capsizing approximately 6 nautical miles east of Flat Rock, off Point Lookout. We were tasked with attempting to locate the vessel and its crew and assist those reportedly in the water. The vessel apparently had no power and the crew were only able to make one mobile telephone call for assistance. The information was that persons were in the water.
Our crew, comprising Roger Slinger (President), Allan Chaplin (master), Alwynn Schwartz (competent crew) and me, Wayne Barnard (master) attended our base in Dunwich and proceeded to launch our primary vessel, Deranji.
We were on the water and underway towards the South Passage Bar by 2315 hrs.
The bar was very active. Our crossing was made at the bottom quarter of the ebb tide. There was a 2 – 2.5 metre swell running with about .5 metre of wind swell on top. The wind was from the south east at around 12 knots.
A successful crossing was made however once outside the back of the bar conditions markedly deteriorated. The swell increased to 4 -5 metres with about 1.5 metres of wind swell on top. The sea was very confused with swell coming from multiple directions. The wave period varied from less than 3 seconds per swell to up to 5 seconds.
Visibility was very poor with substantial wind spray and deep troughs. White out conditions existing for much of the search. Deranji was being thrown around by every wave, being spun up to 180 degrees from our required heading almost every wave. There was substantial cloud cover.
The helicopter Rescue 500 was involved and was able to provide updated coordinates to what was believed to be the stricken vessel. We were tasked to steam to those new coordinates (about 10 nautical miles to the north of flat rock). At this time we were the only vessel on scene.
Travel north was difficult and unpredictable. Deranji was either wallowing in troughs or surfing 6 metre waves for up to half a kilometre at a time, reaching speeds of over 25 knots. The conditions tested both masters skills.
We searched throughout the night, continually heading north. Updated search coordinates were provided throughout the night. As we approached the north eastern tip of Moreton Island we were joined in the search by Bribie Island VMR, a very welcome addition. We were feeling pretty lonely out there!
Fortunately Rescue 500 located the yacht. It had not capsized, but there were people on board. We attended the vessel with Bribie VMR accompanying and the Police vessel “Brett Harman” standing by. The target vessel had no power and the only light it showed was from mobile phones and torches.
For logistical reasons Bribie VMR took the vessel under tow and returned it to the mainland.
Deranji was stood down by the QWP and we returned to the One Mile, this time inside Moreton Island. A return trip south outside the island was totally out of the question. We arrived at the One Mile at 0600hrs on the 18th May. The vessel was washing down and secured. The crew left the base at around 0645 hrs.
The event took a toll on the crew. Difficult and sometimes frightening conditions prevailed however the crew are to be congratulated. They responded immediately, performed their assigned tasks without question and worked as a team. A very professional response all round by VMR NSI, Bribie VMR, Rescue 500 and the QWP with a great outcome.
The incident does, however, highlight the importance of all water craft carrying an EPIRB and activating it when appropriate. In this case hours would have been scrubbed from the search response and, if the crew had been in the water, substantially increased their chances of survival.
Here is a photo of a very relieved Deranji crew approaching the One-Mile jetty after being stood down.
Well done crew.
