BruceK
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A solo sailor from a dis-masted yacht is on his way to Sydney on a Water Police vessel after a rescue 270 miles off the eastern Australian coast in poor weather conditions. How?
The yacht/sailboat activated its EPIRB. AMSA (Aust. Marine Safety Authority) received the signal via satellite and asked aircraft in the area to assist. An Air Canada B777 located the boat, as did an Air New Zealand A 320. AMSA sent a Search and Rescue Dornier aircraft. A commercial ship was tasked to stand by, protecting the yacht from the worst of the wind and waves. A Water Police boat with offshore capability (probably a Steber) was dispatched from Sydney, successfully rescuing the sailor.
These events demonstrate the effectiveness of an EPIRB. Compulsory here offshore, voluntary in the USA I think, highly recommended, the system works.The co-operation of the airlines, and the ship,are commendable. BruceK
The yacht/sailboat activated its EPIRB. AMSA (Aust. Marine Safety Authority) received the signal via satellite and asked aircraft in the area to assist. An Air Canada B777 located the boat, as did an Air New Zealand A 320. AMSA sent a Search and Rescue Dornier aircraft. A commercial ship was tasked to stand by, protecting the yacht from the worst of the wind and waves. A Water Police boat with offshore capability (probably a Steber) was dispatched from Sydney, successfully rescuing the sailor.
These events demonstrate the effectiveness of an EPIRB. Compulsory here offshore, voluntary in the USA I think, highly recommended, the system works.The co-operation of the airlines, and the ship,are commendable. BruceK