Check your beacon is working
The recent rescue of a lone boater 30nm east of Sydney sends a safety reminderA catastrophic fire aboard a 38ft cruising yacht 30nm east of Sydney could have ended in tragedy had it not been for an Emergency Position Indicator Radio Beacon or EPIRB for short.
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) contacted Marine Area Command, the water police in Sydney, who responded to the EPIRB activation 30nm east of Sydney yesterday ((Friday September 15).
The beacon was activated on Friday morning when the 38ft yacht (reported as a "cruiser" but we can see sails) was well ablaze and the liferaft had been deployed.
The sole occupant managed to activate his beacon and was winched to safety by Ambulance Helicopter and transported to RNS hospital suffering mild hypothermia.
Water police crew stood by to monitor the smouldering vessel and navigation warnings were in place.
This is a timely reminder for all vessels to check their beacon is current and registered. Beacons save lives.
The other thing that helped saved a life here was the liferaft. While recreational boaters aren’t required to carry one, it’s recommended if you plan to fish or cruise well away from the coast, especially in winter when water temperatures are cool.
More on EPIRBS at AMSA beacons.
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