VMR Whitsundays receiving record demand for help on open waters
Volunteer Marine Rescue Whitsundays has some simple tips for staying safe on the open waters as Christmas nears and rescues skyrocket.
Community News
Don't miss out on the headlines from Community News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Volunteer Marine Rescue Whitsundays skipper Mal Priday has some simple advice for recreational boaties as Christmas nears.
VMR Whitsundays reported its annual total for activations had already surpassed last year’s, itself a record 47 per cent increase on 2020’s total.
And there is still almost a month left to go in the year, Mr Priday pointed out.
He said there were seven activations in November compared to two in November 2021, an increase of 350 per cent.
There were 250 activations for the year so far, up 108 per cent on last year’s 108 activations.
Mr Priday also had a message for boat owners regarding VHF radios.
“Installing a VHF radio is strongly recommended, not just if you plan on going to the outer reef, but around the islands as well,” he said.
“You should have a licence to operate VHF; you can even do that online. You cannot rely on mobile phone coverage around the islands and there is virtually none on the eastern side.”
He said a boat’s VHF radio “should always be on” with constant monitoring of emergency channel 16.
He also pointed out that when a rescue vessel displayed a towing flag with yellow flashing strobe, it indicated that there was a vessel under tow or alongside the rescue vessel.
VHF radio and sound signals will also be used to communicate their status.
“Any of these actions mean that we may need you to reduce speed to minimise your wake and possibly alter course to stay clear,” Mr Priday said.
“Just because you are in a sailing vessel under sail does not mean that you have right of way over a vessel that is towing and restricted in manoeuvrability.”
Driver rescued after hours trapped on flood-swept ute’s roof
A driver, whose ute was swept away in fast-moving floodwaters, has been rescued after more than two hours trapped on the sunken vehicle’s roof. LATEST.
‘First time in a boat’: Inside operation to bring grandma home
As floodwaters rose across the Mackay region, one Sarina Beach grandma found herself stuck between two flooded roads and with no way home until her son-in-law came to the rescue.