Capsized boat off Sloping Island, Capricorn Coast, recovered

The vessel master has been issued a notice for the unseaworthy dinghy and was cautioned for operating a vessel in poor weather conditions. UDPATED. 

The master of a boat that capsized in windy conditions with two persons on board off the Capricorn Coast last month has been handed an official notice from authorities. 

The 3.8 metre vessel had capsized near Sloping Island, south of Pumpkin Island and North Keppel Island, on Friday, April 21, in rough windy conditions.

The persons on board were travelling from Rosslyn Bay to Great Keppel Island when they ran into trouble.

Their vessel became wedged between rocks above the waterline on Sloping Island with the Yeppoon Coast Guard called to the rescue.

Sloping Island near Pumpkin Island in the Capricornia Coast waters.

The persons managed to make it to safety on the island.

The rough seas and strong winds made it difficult for the Coast Guard vessel to get to the capsized boat without damage, and there was a risk a towed vessel could submerge given the conditions.

“We couldn’t get close because of the rough conditions and we didn’t want to put our boat on the rocks as well,” Yeppoon Coast Guard Flotilla Commander Jim Warren said.

The stranded pair secured the boat to the island rocks, swam to the Coast Guard boat and were taken to the harbour.

That morning, a strong wind warning was issued for the Capricornia Coast with south-easterly 20 to 30 knot winds predicted and seas of 1.5 to 2.5 metres.

Mr Warren said it was “extremely rough” to go out for the rescue with swells up to four metres high.

“We don’t go out in those conditions unless it’s life or death,” he said.

“It was flat out at eight to nine knots, less than 20 kilometres per hour.”

The strong wind continued over the weekend and into this week.

Maritime Safety Queensland confirmed the vessel was recovered on Saturday, April 29, a week after the incident.

All fuel on-board was also recovered.

On May 18, MSQ updated The Morning Bulletin it had completed its investigation and the vessel's master was "issued with a notice to restore the dinghy to a seaworthy condition".

The master was also cautioned about operating a vessel in poor weather conditions.

Originally published as Capsized boat off Sloping Island, Capricorn Coast, recovered