Coast Guard Auxiliary Deaths

R

Ron on Meander

New member
Two coast guard auxiliary volunteers died on sunday when their rigid inflatable overturned in Skookumchuck narrows. Skookumchuck narrows is not far from Egmont, which is a common fuel stop for people travelling to Princess Louisa. You do not transit Skookumchuck on the way to PL but it is not far off the route. Apparently they may have been on a training exercise when the boat capsized. It just shows how dangerous tidal rapids can be at times and we should not become complacent on how we transit them.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/story/2012/06/03/bc-boat-capsize-skookumchuk.html
 
"At the time of the accident, the current was running at about 24 km/h, said Sly. "

Wow - 24km/h current (15MPH). That's moving fast.
 
How sad.

Two years ago we went through Skookumchuck (Sechelt Rapids). While waiting for slack tide we watched an RIB with four Canadian Coasties roar back and forth through the current. It was very impressive, but definitely something only the most experienced pilot in the right boat should attempt. After their last transit, they passed close by us, smiling and waving. Looked like a bunch of healthy young guys having the time of their lives. Made me envious.

We went through maybe an hour before our predicted slack on a relatively modest tidal swing. It was exciting but not scary. It did however require full attention, and nearly full throttle for a moment or two as we were going in against an ebb. The big S-curve in the middle of the rapids gets surprisingly narrow very quickly and the rocks look alarmingly close on either side. We were even closer to slack on the way out, and turbulence and current were less, but the water was still moving at an impressive speed. It was again an ebb, so this time maintaining steerage without too much throttle was important. On a really large tidal swing, the current and the standing waves can be just unbelievable, and waiting for the actual "slack" (which may last for a matter of a minute or two!) becomes crucial.
Princess_Louisa_Inlet_07_10_010.jpg

Princess_Louisa_Trip_July_2010_029.jpg
 
This heartbreaking disaster hit close to home for me. As a volunteer member of the local search and rescue group I have experienced the Skookumchuck rapids in a rigid hull inflatable. A manouver that must be practised "that others may live"

:cry:
 
Back
Top