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today29 January 2025
newy.com.au Volunteers from Marine Rescue Newcastle braved challenging conditions last night to assist a stranded 12-metre sailing catamaran off Stockton Beach, ensuring the safe return of its three-person crew.
The vessel, which was making its way from Sydney to Port Stephens, ran into trouble when its foresail blew out and became inoperable, one of its engines failed, and the crew struggled with anchoring issues. The skipper, who had logged on with Marine Rescue NSW, called for assistance just after 9:30 pm.
Marine Rescue Newcastle’s Deputy Unit Commander, Rick Nevile, said the rescue vessel Newcastle 30 was deployed, reaching the stranded catamaran by 9:50 pm. The vessel was located nearly four kilometres north-northeast of Newcastle Harbour’s entrance and just 500 metres from Stockton Beach, raising concerns about it drifting further toward the shoreline.
“Conditions were particularly tough, with heavy rain, a strong south-southwesterly wind, and swells reaching up to three metres, making manoeuvring around the disabled vessel extremely difficult,” Deputy Unit Commander Nevile said.
The Newcastle 30 crew quickly secured a tow line to stabilise the vessel and assist with the recovery of its anchors before towing it safely back to Newcastle Harbour.
“All crew members were wearing lifejackets, and the fact that the skipper had logged on with Marine Rescue NSW allowed us to respond swiftly,” Mr Nevile added. “We always encourage boaters to log on via the free Marine Rescue app or VHF channel 16. This ensures that our dedicated volunteers can monitor a vessel’s journey and respond promptly in case of an emergency.”
The stranded catamaran and its crew were safely secured on a mooring in Newcastle Harbour just after 11:30 pm.
Marine Rescue NSW, a volunteer-driven not-for-profit organisation, remains committed to ensuring the safety of boaters and providing vital support to local communities.
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Written by: Newy Staff
Newy 87.8 FM is an FM radio station established in 2014 targeting Classic Hits music enthusiasts across Newcastle and The Central Coast, Australia. The station plays 60s 70s and 80s music. The station can be streamed online via this website or smart phone apps such as Tunein. In 2024 we opened a local newsroom dedicated to publishing Newcastle News.
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