9.6m cruiser under tow arrives at Daleys Point following its tow from Long Reef by Marine Rescue.

On Tuesday 19^th January about 2:50pm the Marine Rescue volunteers on duty in the Radio Room at Point Clare Base, Ian Radford and Ken Thuaux, received a VHF radio call from the skipper of a 9.6m motor cruiser with four people on board. The skipper said the cruiser was off Long Reef. Its anchor line was caught in its twin propellers and the vessel was drifting towards the shoreline at Dee Why.

The need was urgent as the vessel would likely be ashore at Dee Why before the Central Coast rescue vessel could reach the area. The operators at Marine Rescue Sydney overheard the radio conversation, and understanding the urgency, advised that the Marine Rescue Middle Harbour rescue vessel, Middle Harbour 30, that was on a training exercise on Sydney Harbor could assist the cruiser within 30 minutes. The offer was gratefully received and Middle Harbour 30 was immediately tasked to assist.

With the rescue organised, Central Coast 21 with crew Gordon Ellis, Max Landells and Geoff Warr was dispatched to meet the Middle Harbour rescue vessel off Iron Ladder Beach to complete the tow back to the cruiser’s berth at a private jetty at Daleys Point. Around 6:00pm the two rescue vessels met and the tow was exchanged. The cruiser finally arrived at its berth around 6.45pm, much to the relief of the owner/skipper and his crew.