With an expected increase in water traffic over the Easter break, Marine Rescue has highlighted the importance of logging on and off with your local base.
On Sunday afternoon, March 24, an 8-metre boat was more than two-and-a-half hours overdue returning to shore, after a self-confessed “somewhat inexperienced” skipper had entered the wrong 24 hour time when originally logging in.
He and his party of three then sailed out of radio range and couldn’t be contacted after failing to log off.
After an hour, the rescue procedure was put into operation, with co-operation sought by police and other emergency services conducting searches of local boat ramps and car parks.
Contact was finally made with the NSW Central West man who made it back to land two hours 30 minutes later than expected.
Unit Commander of Marine Rescue Central Coast, Ian Morrow, once again stressed the importance of logging on and off with your local Marine Rescue base.
“Either phone your local base or use the app which can be downloaded onto your phone,” he said.
“It really can be the difference between an enjoyable day on the water or disaster.”