Police Remind Boat Users to Equip Vessels for Safe Voyages
Police are reminding boat users to ensure they are well-equipped for their journeys, that their vessels have the required safety gear, and that they are capable of the voyage.
A police rescue swimmer was winched into waters in Tasmania's north-west to assist two people stranded on a sinking yacht during the early hours of Saturday.
The police received a call from the 12.8-metre yacht just after midnight, with the crew reporting that the vessel had run aground in waters just off the coast, north-west of Wynyard.
Tasmania Police responded with resources on both land and sea. However, the police vessel was unable to access the stricken yacht safely under the prevailing conditions, necessitating the winching of a police rescue swimmer from a helicopter.
All three individuals were subsequently winched to safety, with police stating that the crew members did not require medical assistance.
The police highlighted that the two people on board were well-prepared for their time at sea. "Even well-prepared and experienced people can run into difficulties at sea," Inspector Adam Spencer stated.
Tasmania Police urges everyone to ensure they are well-prepared before heading out to sea and to make sure their vessels are equipped with the necessary safety gear and are capable of the journey.
In a separate incident late Friday night, police were alerted to a vessel in danger near Stanley in the state's far north-west. An aluminium dinghy, approximately 10 feet (3 metres) in length, found itself in trouble about 2-3 kilometres north of the Western Inlet near Stanley.
The two men on board were facing difficulties due to increased winds, which rendered their vessel unable to return to shore. They had set off from Anthony Beach, south-west of Stanley. Fortunately, a fishing boat responded to assist them, taking them safely to the Stanley wharf, with neither man in need of medical help.
