Rescue at Outer Black Rock - Esperanza Inlet

[Sushihunter]

quote:Originally posted by King_Cod

Nice to read about a rescue mission and not a body recovery. Great work Jim! I'm sure the two men's families are very happy to see them alive.

Reel Chaos

Yes indeed. One of the guys told us how he had lost his brother in a drowning accident when he was 16 or so after falling through the ice on Upper Campbell lake. He didn't like the idea of someone telling his parents that he had drown out here!


Jim's Fishing Charters
www.JimsFishing.com
http://ca.youtube.com/user/Sushihunter250

 

[Highliner]

So what happened to their boat?

Highliner

www.salmonboats.ca

 

[Sushihunter]

quote:Originally posted by Highliner

So what happened to their boat?

Highliner

www.salmonboats.ca

We had to leave it - there was no way we could tow it - too rough at the time. The owner planned on getting some help from his friends to go out and try and recover it.

Jim's Fishing Charters
www.JimsFishing.com
http://ca.youtube.com/user/Sushihunter250

 

[Fishing Guide]

Cheers All,

Two interesting points here as it goes without saying that anyone would offer help in that given situation and, from the responses here, it seems that many know Jim and that this is the norm rather than the exception.

Firstly that they did not have to steer around the upset boat...in fact they had to be alert to the hand in the air. If they had not been aware of their environment and to the fact that something was out of the ordinary they may have missed it and had they not been so attentive to this detail and 'investigated' this remarkably happy ending might have ended significantly differently. It only takes a minute to run over to check it out and the difference can be...trite as it seems...'the difference between life and death. In this case it seems obvious that the increasing weather would prevent other boaters from venturing outside and, as such, other help would probably not come in time.

The second point is as been pointed out - where we stash our ditch kit. Too many boaters (including guides) have their ditch kit out of the way so 'it doesn't get in the way' yet, sadly, this position usually makes it difficult to 'grab n' go'. Perhaps a wakeup call to us all to ensure we locate our ditch kit where we can get at it in '3 Seconds'. And to ensure that we have the essentials on us...including a whistle.


Finally too many of us never prepare for the 'rogue wave' but perhaps another wakeup call to wear proper life saving equipment when the waves begin not when we end up waving for help or heading back into an overturned boat to retrieve our floater jacket.

This one ended extremely well thanks to Jim but...

Fishing Guide
www.invictuscharters.com
BC Outdoors Pro Staff

 

[Salmon Smoker]

quote:Originally posted by Sushihunter

Another lesson to learn: Just becuase you spent the previous day installing a new VHF radio and antenna doesn't mean you will get to use it in an emergency. Same thing with the box of flares that you have stashed in a drawer somewhere onboard. Something to be said about having a pocket full of VHF handheld, flares and a whistle.

Excellent suggestions. My flares are tucked away and my handheld VHF lives on my kitchen counter at home for the marine forecasts!
I do wear my life jacket with a whistle and an LED flasher attatched.

 

[reelfast]

don't know how responsive the coast guard is up in that area, but going offshore would suggest investing in an EPIRB. get it wet and it starts transmitting, nothing to think about in a stresful situation. monitored worldwide.

 

[Sushihunter]

quote:Originally posted by reelfast

don't know how responsive the coast guard is up in that area, but going offshore would suggest investing in an EPIRB. get it wet and it starts transmitting, nothing to think about in a stresful situation. monitored worldwide.

Not very. Coast Guard has a FRB (Fast Response Boat) based at Friendly Cove during the summer, and sometimes there is a large boat that visits the area for buoy tending etc. Infact, they were tied to the dock at Tahsis when we returned.

EPIRB is probably the best idea. Make sure you get a new one that is capable of sending position. Older ones may not work at all now as they have changed frequency - not sure if Canada is changing or not at this time.

Jim's Fishing Charters
www.JimsFishing.com
http://ca.youtube.com/user/Sushihunter250

 

[reelfast]

the change in monitored EPIRB frequency is worldwide. all new EPIRBs are on that frequency, 406MHz, and i think virtually all of them transmit a GPS position. probably the only insturment you can add that requires zero thinking to trigger and start transmitting.

 

[Kramer]

God bless you.

We were out of esperanza a few years ago a few miles out from the whistle buoy and heard a mayday call. A small boat got swamped and then the radio went silent. We (a few boats & coast guard) searched high and low for hours and never did find the guys. Hope they were okay but never will know. Still haunts me.

 

[Charlie]

Those people are Very lucky you where there!

I believe all EPIRB's transmit your GPS position to the Search and Rescue Center, which in turn contacts the appropriate agency. But, I would not rely "just" on an EPIRB to save your life. IT IS a good thing to have and, at least that will give you a fighting chance of survival? But, If you really want insure survival you not only need an EPIRB, but also an approved offshore life raft, survival suits and some luck? A friend of mine, who went down off Cape Beal, was eventually picked up (by the Coastguard) in his life raft off Tofino and was after several hours drifting miles with the current! He did not have time to dawn his survival suit!

Depending on the call, the Coastguard's first response will probably be out of Tofino via helicopter and that is when weather allows! Then by boat/s and depending on where they are, that can take a few minutes, to hours? The Canadian Coastguard (which does a really good job and I do "float plan" with them whenever possible) usually has a ship offshore, but the question is where is it and where are you? For example, once where I thought I possibly needed a medivac, I gave them my coordinates and they advised it would be 5 hours to get to me? I was about 10 miles offshore between Bajo and Ferrer Point and in the fog. Yes, they have units spread out, but again the question is, where are they? Then, there are the many other factors that determine their capability of recovery (eg weather). BTW they can home in on a VHF radio signal.

From a prospective of someone who has spent a lot of time offshore on the WCVI? When things are not good… it is a VERY lonely feeling out there! When things turn bad, you really need to start thinking of your survival equipment, and very quickly!

Those two people are VERY lucky to be alive! And, there is absolutely nothing wrong with the buddy system!

 

[reelfast]

agreed charlie, the EPIRB is only one tool. but, if you are going to add an important tool, i can't think of a more appropriate expenditure of $$$. FYI, when you register your new EPIRB, you supply boat description, contact info and a bunch of other detail. there is also an 'other' field that you can type into and edit, over and over again, which is where i 'file' my float plan. if your EPIRB goes off, all of that info is transmitted to the closest responder.

i believe the canadian CG is right on top of these distress calls and actually does respond. the USCG still is too busy looking for jihadists to worry too much about the boating public (hey just listen to the VHF and how they respond to calls from boaters).

 

[Charlie]

quote:Originally posted by reelfast

... there is also an 'other' field that you can type into and edit, over and over again, which is where i 'file' my float plan. if your EPIRB goes off, all of that info is transmitted to the closest responder.

IMHO, I am not sure I would do that, even with a Category 1 EPIRB? And, I am also registered? If for some reason that little thing doesn't transmit or you can't push your DSC button... NO ONE will ever start looking for you? I personally "float plan" and have the highest esteem for both the CCG & USCG!

Plus, I guess I just like to say "hi" to a human who every once in awhile just calls to make sure everything is okay!

quote:
i believe the canadian CG is right on top of these distress calls and actually does respond. the USCG still is too busy looking for jihadists to worry too much about the boating public (hey just listen to the VHF and how they respond to calls from boaters).

There is a "BIG" difference in how both the CCG and USCG handle traffic in the San Juan's, Seattle, or Victoria areas, versus traffic in Strait of Juan de Fuca or on the West coast, especially in questionable weather. I have also had "both" call my emergency contact numbers throughout the years to confirm information even when I wasn't overdue or reported problems. I have also had both patch me into landlines to make telephone calls when needed.

I have to admit, I probably would become a little irritated also, if each day I had 1000 calls for a radio check, another 1000 calling for moorage in marinas, and 2000 others calling their friends all being done on channel 16?

 

[beemer]

Nice save sushihunter , a less experienced person would have missed them in rough water. A few points on our Search and Rescue system on the coast. 60% to 80% of the "Coast Guard" callouts are actually performed by the Coast Guard AUXILIARY. A volunteer run non profit group. It would be nice to havea regular coast guard station on every point along the coast , but it is not feasible to have that much coverage along our big coastline.
So support your local Auxiliary station as they are most likely the ones that will be saving your bacon!!

A note about EPIRBS , not all activate when they get wet.And many stop transmitting when they are not manually activated , get wet then are taken out of water. When you are mounting them on a small boat think about that boat being upside down , crap , lines everywhere , freezing hands and trying to get your EPIRB out of its holder. All I can say is read the manual thoroughly or do what I did , get my wife to read the manual thouroughly and then told me what to do! be safe.lifes too short!