One year ago on Nov. 15, 2021, a crew from the Ladysmith branch of the Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue made a heroic rescue in the Strait of Georgia of two people from a sinking fishing boat.
For their efforts in the rescue, the crew members were awarded Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary Operational Merit Medals. They were also cited by the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre for recognition in the RCMSARB次元官网网址檚 annual top three missions during the annual general meeting at the end of September.
Crew members included: coxswain Phil Kelsey of Chemainus, LadysmithB次元官网网址檚 Ross Hayes and John Oakes and North OysterB次元官网网址檚 Susan Wisely.
B次元官网网址淭he whole crew is extremely experienced,B次元官网网址� said Kelsey.
He estimated the combined experience of all four at more than 2,000 hours of sea time.
Kelsey remembers the day well. The crew had just returned to the Ladysmith harbour entrance from another call near Gabriola Island and B次元官网网址渨e heard the mayday on the radio,B次元官网网址� he noted.
A fishing boat, the Darla R, had lost power and was taking on water three kilometres southeast of Thrasher Rock and east of Valdes Island. The rescue boat turned around and headed back out.
B次元官网网址淚t was fairly windy, 20-25 knots,B次元官网网址� observed Kelsey.
When the crew located the vessel, there were two people on board who were heading from Alaska to Anacortes, Washington. In heavy rolling seas, a swinging boom had broken the fuel line from the reserve tank that killed the engine. The boat was dead in the water, lying broadside to the waves.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 now rolling really heavily,B次元官网网址� pointed out Kelsey. B次元官网网址淭hey were taking on water.B次元官网网址�
The conditions were extremely dangerous and the crew hurried to get the two men off the boat.
B次元官网网址淭hey werenB次元官网网址檛 wearing lifejackets but had survival suits on deck and we instructed them to put those on,B次元官网网址� Kelsey indicated. B次元官网网址淥ne by one, the crew pulled them off the back of the boat. They got into our boat only with what they were wearing.B次元官网网址�
A nearby Jones Marine tug out of Chemainus, the Titan, had also arrived by this time and positioned itself upwind to provide some shelter from the wind and waves. There was precious little time when the crew arrived to get the men off the boat.
B次元官网网址淚t sank very quickly,B次元官网网址� said Kelsey. B次元官网网址淚f weB次元官网网址檇 been 10 minutes later, those guys would have gone down with the boat. They wouldnB次元官网网址檛 have had their survival suits on.B次元官网网址�
The water temperature at this time of year is less than 10C.
If they hadnB次元官网网址檛 already been out on the water, Kelsey figures it would have been another 20-30 minutes before the RCMSAR crew could have reached the men and by then it probably wouldB次元官网网址檝e been too late.
But allB次元官网网址檚 well that ends well. B次元官网网址淭hey were fine,B次元官网网址� said Kelsey. B次元官网网址淭hey were cold and wet, a little bit shocked.B次元官网网址�
Kelsey has been involved as a search and rescue volunteer for a little more than four years, but has many years experience on the water.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e been racing on sailboats since I was a kid,B次元官网网址� he pointed out.
Joining the Ladysmith Marine Search and Rescue team has been a rewarding experience for Kelsey.
B次元官网网址淲hen I retired, I wanted to use my boating skills to give back to the community. WeB次元官网网址檙e out there to save lives.B次元官网网址�
Many people arenB次元官网网址檛 aware itB次元官网网址檚 a completely volunteer organization and B次元官网网址渢here is a fairly high turnover,B次元官网网址� Kelsey added. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a slow turnover, but there is a constant turnover.B次元官网网址�
ItB次元官网网址檚 a big commitment for crew members who must live within 15 minutes of the station and attend extensive classroom and on-the-water training sessions.
There are 30 RCMSAR stations along the B.C. coast and the coverage areas for most are substantial.
B次元官网网址淲e cover from Gabriola (Island) in the north to Crofton in the south, out to the Strait of Georgia and all the islands in between,B次元官网网址� Kelsey explained. B次元官网网址淲e overlap with RCMSAR stations in Nanaimo in the north and Salt Spring to the south.B次元官网网址�
Marine search and rescue teams fill in the gaps between Canadian Coast Guard stations on B.C.B次元官网网址檚 coast.
Emergency calls are received at the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre in Esquimalt and Coast Guard personnel determine the appropriate response whether Coast Guard, RCMSAR or even RCAF aircraft. Sometimes multiple resources are required. If paged by JRCC, an RCMSAR crew reports to its boat, gears up and heads to the vessel in distress at up to 40 knots (80 kph) depending on conditions.
B次元官网网址淏oaters should be aware it can be half an hour to an hour before anybody can get to a particular location,B次元官网网址� Kelsey pointed out.
Volunteer crews are on call 24/7, year-round, ready to respond to marine emergencies in any weather, often the worst.
B次元官网网址淎lthough four of us rescued the crew from a sinking fishing vessel last November, crews from the 20+ member Ladysmith station perform similar missions on a regular basis all year round,B次元官网网址� Kelsey elaborated. B次元官网网址淲hile a portion of our fuel costs are covered by the Canadian Coast Guard, we are all unpaid volunteers who raise our own funding through the Ladysmith & District Marine Rescue Society for operations, vessels and equipment through donations, grants and contributions from organizations and individuals in our local communities.B次元官网网址�
For information and how to join the team, click for the organizationB次元官网网址檚 website or for its Facebook page.
don.bodger@chemainusvalleycourier.ca
Like us on and follow us on .
