For the month of June,
Bahamas Air Sea Rescue Association (BASRA)
had a total of 13 calls, 22 people assisted - 5 people injured, 6 rescue
boats called out, 3 assist from USCG, 2 assist from RBDF, 4 commercial
assists, and 2 assists by others.
On 6/1 at 6:40 am
A Call came in from Ocean
Rescue
& Recovery (ORR) that a boat is aground at Sunrise Resort and Marina
entrance with a diabetic woman on board that is not responsive. We then
Contacted Justin Snisky who contacted Christine Snisky (One of BASRA’s
Volunteer medics), who recommended an ambulance. The ambulance was met
by BASRA personnel and directed to the boat ramp. The diabetic woman
had an amputated toe and had her foot in a cast. Due to this, it was
decided not to try to get her to the rocks but have her walk in the
water to shore. EMT’s checked her out and she was OK. Charlton Knowles
picked up the captain and women and took them to the sunrise resort.
At approximately 8:00AM BASRA called customs and report they had not
cleared.
On 6/2 around 10:00 PM
A Call from Christine Knowles
had come in stating that her husband and Brad Cummer were approximately
1 hour over due. He was in a 23 foot boat with 225 HP and 3 persons
on board (POB). At 10:07 they report in that they were underway.
On 6/4 around 5:30 PM
OBAT Nassau reported a private
alarm on a boat about 18 miles south of Grand Bahama, The boat was a
32 foot fiberglass hull by the name (Getting Busy) and captained by
Capt Bruce Hicks. BASRA base and Freeport Harbour Control assistance
called on VHF 16 with no reply. RBDF went to scene and checked them
out and all was OK.
On 6/5 around 6:45 AM
BASRA received a call that
the vessel Island Trader was on fire 2 miles off Freeport Harbour. Ocean
Rescue & Recovery and BASRA’s Rescue II responded. Harbour Tugs
were fighting the fire and had decided to tow to shallow water east
of harbour where Gary (Ocean Rescue and Recovery) could take over and
handle the situation.
On 6/7 around 6:30 AM
A Call came in from Police
control room that a 51 foot (Reel Magic) was aground on Sails Cay. Ocean
Rescue & Recovery responded.
On 6/7 around 12:50 PM
A Distress Call came over the
VHF on ch 16 from a rental boat that originated from Club Fortuna and
was broken down off Lucayan Jetties. The vessel was then assisted by
another vessel which happened to hear them on the radio.
On 6/8 at 9:15 PM
A Call came into BASRA from
the Freeport Harbour control room saying that they had received a
distress
call from vessel 10 miles off Freeport and low on Gas and trying to
make it in. BASRA had then Launched rescue I with Bryan and Joel on
Crew; at 10:30pm, at about 11:15pm the vessel was under tow and back
at dock by 12:40 AM.
On 6/10
VHF channel 16 was being
blocked
by someone keying radio off and on all that day and the day before.
BASRA launched Rescue I to pick up Gary’s (ORR) RDF (Radio Directional
Finder), by the time BASRA arrived to Gary’s and organized a training
crew the interference had quit.
On 6/16 at 5:30 PM
A call came in from sailboat
(Seize the Day) stating she was towing a 30 foot sail (Renaissance)
and needed assistance bringing the boat into port. Knowles Marine
assisted.
On 6/19 at 8:30 PM
Call from Chala Cartwright
from Tanio beach that 2 adults took 6 children for boat ride and had
not returned. They were in a 27 foot Robalo with twin (2)-225 HP
engines.
BASRA then got another report that a boat had hit the rocks inside the
Lucayan waterway. There were several People on board, Bruce Smith, KC
Charlton plus children. 3 were seriously injured and being rushed to
hospital. We (BASRA) called in Justin Snisky who went to the hospital
to confirm that it was in fact the same people from Taino Beach. He
then called the police and got in touch with the officer on the scene
for more details. Justin then reported that this was the same people
from Taino Beach, 6 POB, 5 were injured. Bruce Smith was OK.
On 6/22 around 12:00 AM
A Call came in from USCG that
they received an E-Pirb signal off Zanadu at 26.29.4-78.44.2. BASRA
then Launched Rescue II to the location, On Scene Basra found 3 boats
in that area, We then checked with each boat, no E Pirb were going off.
We then searched the area for any signs of wreckage.
On 6/26 around 8:45 PM
A Call from USCG Sector Miami
came into BASRA base stating that a 110 foot vessel (Envision) was
overdue
from WPB to Guana Cay in Abacos. We were then asked to check marinas
to see if they stopped in Grand Bahama. BASRA Officials then Checked
Old Bahama Bay, Port Lucaya and GB Yacht Club, But was unfortunate in
locating the vessel.
On 6/29 around 4:29PM
A Call came in from Insurance
broker Bob Heekin that a boat had been stolen from Bahia Mar around
the 1st of June. He had received info that it may be in Chub
Cay or may have cleared there and would we check. BASRA then called
Chub and asked them to check marina and records
BASRA’s friendly Boater’s
reminder for the Month of June.
Please always file a Float
Plan
What is a Float Plan?
If you are going for just a few hours on your boat, let someone know
where you expect to be and when you expect to return. If you plan a
longer cruise, leave a copy of a written
float plan with your
marina, yacht club, or friend. A float plan includes a description of
your boat, who is on board, a description of the safety equipment you
are carrying, where you expect to be, and when you expect to be there.
Instruct the person holding the float plan to notify BASRA if you do
not return within a reasonable time after your scheduled arrival (taking
into account weather, etc.). When you arrive at your destination, or
if your plans change, notify the person holding your float plan to avoid
unnecessary worry and possible waste of search and rescue resources.
There is no special or official form that you must use for a float plan,
though you may find convenient pre-printed ones available in boating
supply stores and catalogs, or you can generate a customized form using
our
Float Plan
template
online.
Safe Boating to all!!
