Marine Rescue crew, George Kowalski, keeping check of the towline on Central Coast 22, with the 4.5m runabout in tow to Gosford Boat Ramp

The volunteers on duty at Marine Rescue Central on Boxing Day, 26 December 2016 were contacted by the owner of a 4.5m runabout around 10:30am. He said his vessel, with six people on board, was west of Saratoga near the oyster leases and that he had an engine problem. Duty Skipper, Bren Weston and his crew Max Landells and George Kowalski aboard rescue vessel, Central Coast 22, responded and soon had the boat in tow. As they approached Gosford Boat Ramp the rescue boat and the boat in tow were harassed by Personal Water Craft endangering the safety of those in the towed boat and making berthing very difficult.

Around1 :45pm John Jarvey and crew Bruce Lorking, Peter Fischer and Malcolm Sinclair aboard rescue vessel Central Coast 21 were sent to the entrance to Cockle Broadwater at Kincumber South to assist a 7.5m Bayliner Motor Cruiser that requested help due to a mechanical problem. The tow to a private mooring adjacent to Ettalong wharf proved to be quite demanding due to the narrow channels, falling tide and gusty 20 knot N/East wind. The two people on board expressed their gratitude for the assistance provided by the volunteers who gave up family time to assist the boating community.