Hand held VHF saved the day!

C-Val · Posted: Tue Sep 30, 2014 9:36 pm Post subject: Hand held VHF saved the day!

Good news story from last night in the Gulf Islands BC.

The bad news: A 30ft gillnetter started taking on water in a rip tide just outside Porlier Pass with a family of 7 aboard (5 young children one only 3 yrs old) The cabin filled up and she rolled over. The family was in the water clinging to the hull for 25 min. in the dark

The good news: the dad had a hand held VHF with which he was able to locate his position in the dark for the CG

Check it out on the web. Chek news has a good take on it.

Val and I just came across the Strait in the C Dory the day before but a few miles south of this location. These stories always make me ask if I am doing everything right and give me chills in my spine

C-Val · Posted: Wed Oct 01, 2014 12:29 am Post subject:

Here is a link if interested:

http://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/b-c-fishing-boat-rescue-2-adults-5-kids-plucked-from-georgia-strait-1.2030982

BrentB · Posted: Wed Oct 01, 2014 9:00 am Post subject:

I cant access the article at work but having a handheld VHF radio helped in this situation and maybe other safety items would have useful like a life raft, EPIRB, flashing strobe lights on each life jacket, etc. The water was very too cold I expect and don't the know the temp but hypothermia can immobilize you quickly and cause death

I am glad all survived

sorry for the armchair soapbox commentary

AstoriaDave · Posted: Wed Oct 01, 2014 9:23 am Post subject:

Not enough PFDs to go around, but quick response from CCG SAR resources. They were being tracked by radar as tbey exited Porlier Pass, so SAR knew exactly where they were when the Mayday came through. Hovercraft pulled them off the sinking boat. Youngest kid, a 3 year old was the most hypothermic, warmed up pretty quickly.

Probably got nailed in the tide rip coming off the Pass, once they exited. A very pretty area, but tricky, with substantial current through the pass at times.

BrentB · Posted: Wed Oct 01, 2014 9:37 am Post subject:

thanks Dave

How long were they in water?

C-Val · Posted: Wed Oct 01, 2014 10:05 pm Post subject:

Almost 1/2 hr in the water clinging to the overturned hull.

Can't imagine that! And to beat that it was in the dark with 5 kids!
We all make mistakes but that story shakes me up a bit.

I was just wondering about the rip tide that Dave mentioned. Does that pull you sideways into rocks? How exactly do rip tides cause this? I have never been in a strong one

AstoriaDave · Posted: Thu Oct 02, 2014 1:58 am Post subject:

C-Val,

They likely were in a tide rip, typically formed where two bodies of water, moving at different speeds, meet. Can be rather wide, and can trap waves or wakes. Where the current exits a pass like Porlier, usually be one on either side of the tongue of rapidly moving water. And sometimes an extensive one where the rapidly moving water meets stationary water. Not usually dangerous for a C Dory type of vessel, assuming a competent skipper.

A rip tide is formed in surf, and moves water back out to sea. Confusing that these two names are so similar. And there is nothing tidal about a rip tide. People often just call them rips.