a nice relaxing vacation to New Zealand (854 hits)
Category: GeneralRating: 2 on 11 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by Peckerhead <-> (View user info) at 2005-04-04 13:55:21 EDT
I have just returned from a three-week vacation to New Zealand. Following is a (mostly) true account of one rather exciting afternoon...
We had just pulled into a calm bay after a journey from Paihia to the Kerikeri Inlet. Desmond (the Skipper) and his wife, Julie, had invited me and my wife, Christine out for a few days of touring and fishing off the northeast coast of New Zealand. This was our third and final day out on the lovely Pacific Ocean and we had done a good deal of sight seeing all along the coast to Cape Brett. We had driven through "the Hole in the Rock" which is one of the top tourist attractions. It is basically an island which for some geological reason ended up with a rather large hole in it -- large enough for small and mid sized boats and launches to actually drive right through.
It was now mid day and the sea was a quite rough with waves of just over a meter high along with brisk winds out of the north-east. Murphy's law of boating picnics was about to prevail. In other words, we were just nicely set up with table out, sandwiches and fruit and salad nicely placed along with utensils and plates when over the boat radio came:
"Mayday. Mayday. Small fishing boat about to wash up on shore in the Bay of Islands." Luckily, Desmond was closest to the radio and clearly heard the distress signal. A quick check of his instrumentation showed that we were reasonably close to the origin of the call.
I couldn't help but think back to a week earlier when on another boat trip, the Skipper named Murray had told me how he would likely contact another launch (boat) if he knew one was nearby rather than the Coast Guard. My sense was that experienced New Zealand boaters were a tight-knit group with a lot of pride and respect for one another.
"Quiet!" Desmond yelled as he focused on what sounded like a very serious situation. Most of you don't know me too well but if you did, you would know that I do not like orders -- even from the supervisors at work. However, after watching Desmond navigate and drive his launch with apparent ease in fairly severe weather, I was more than willing to take direction - for a change. We quickly cleared the table -- transferring what would have been a small banquet of a lunch down into the galley section of this large 8-ton boat. "We may need this area to take people on-board" Desmond said as everyone started into action.
Within 30 seconds, we were moving at about 25 knots in the general direction of the distress call. We noticed another launch headed in the same direction at about a 45-degree angle from us. By the time we arrived on the scene there were four boats of various sizes circling in the same general area. "There. Up on shore" called my wife, Christine. We all looked over and saw two young men with life jackets standing on the rocky shoreline. As we got closer, we saw two more men and the 22-foot I/O (inboard-outboard) fishing boat. They had actually done a great job of maneuvering the boat into a small cove and were now desperately trying to keep the boat from being bashed against the rocks.
Desmond knew what had to be done but he was going to need some help. A smaller boat came along side and there was some quick communication. The basic plan was that a long, strong rope - which I had just grabbed out of the bow storage compartment - would be fed via small boat to the boat in danger. Again, these guys had done some miraculous "boat preservation" as it was obvious that the boat was still floating with no apparent damage... yet.
A lady skillfully pulled along side of our boat. It was clear that she had good control of her boat and was going to assist if needed. (Guys, forget everything you've ever heard about "women drivers". Boating skills are clearly not just the domain of men; this girl was good!) Then came the one break we needed. Desmond had just received a transmission that a diver was nearby and being shuttled to the scene. This boat appeared about a minute later and pulled along side -- opposite of the woman who was now stationed at port (left) side.
A little more quick communication complete with hand gestures and the rescue was underway. The diver did the classic backwards splash-dive into the warm Pacific waters. The smallest Dingy style boat now transferred the strong green rope to the diver. Could he navigate his way through in the rough waves? Was the rope long enough? Was it strong enough? These questions would soon be answered.
The next few minutes were critical. As the diver skillfully made his way closer, I looked around to see about 10 to 12 boats gathered behind -- all ready and willing to assist in any way possible. Truth be told, the best thing a few of these boats could to is stay the hell out of the way. The last thing we needed was for some "hero" to try something stupid and cause a second accident. Luckily this did not happen. It had become very clear who was in a position to be of direct help and who should stay put.
A thumbs up sign from the diver told us what we needed to know. The boat was in good enough condition to be towed to safety. Three of the men on shore now quickly climbed aboard their vessel. Skillful driving by the Dingy operator and careful yet frantic paddling by the stranded boaters brought the boat fully into view. The moment of truth: it was one thing to maneuver in the sheltered cove. What would happen as the boat came out into the open sea where the waves were now 1.5 meters high and moving in the worst possible direction -- towards shore?
It turned into a game of inches. Both the dingy and the stranded boat came perilously close to the jagged New Zealand coastline. My heart was pounding fast and I was fighting my emotions. This was truly drama on the high seas. Desmond was clearly eager and ready to start phase 2 of this rescue attempt. The Dingy had come as far towards us as possible and was now struggling. Julie was in the best position to take the rope. She and Desmond communicated well and knew exactly what had to be done. Julie grabbed the rope and hastily tied a looping sailors knot that I (blush) would not have known how to do -- at least not as quickly as she did it.
"Get in the boat!" Desmond cried. Julie was so focused on her task that she had unwittingly put herself in a tight and dangerous spot. Would she be pinched between the rope and the stern of the launch? (I talked to Desmond later and he revealed that this was the only time he felt any sort of panic throughout the whole incident.) Christine reached out and grabbed for Julie who quickly jumped back into the rear section of our launch. Things were now looking good! Desmond put the motor in gear and slowly but surely towed the boat to a safe distance from shore.
The fourth passenger had meanwhile swum out and was picked up by the skilled lady who had basically monitored and kept other "helpful" boats away. She shuttled the shaky young man over to his original boat and was safely transferred over. Desmond came down from his top section and tied a special knot mid-way between the two rear boat rungs. By the time he was done, the rope resembled a T-bar with the load pulling symmetrically and perfectly centered behind our launch.
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One by one the boats dispersed. A final wave from the diver and our extremely helpful lady friend. We never did find out her name. The skipper of the small boat shakily requested if we could tow him back to Paihia? Our initial plan had been to fish in earnest on this last afternoon of our trip but Desmond graciously agreed to tow the boat in to the main wharf. In the end, a settlement of cash and two fish (snappers) became a semi-bartered payment for our services. We did not get the thrill of catching fish that day but there had been more than enough excitement for everyone. Nothing like getting away from the job for some good relaxing boating!!
One final word of commendation to "Russell Radio" and the very professional job they did throughout this emergency rescue. Both Russell Radio and the Coast Guard sent numerous transmissions of gratitude and made very sure that all passengers were accounted for and safe. My lasting image is glancing over at Desmond as he skippered his launch back to Paihia. He had an expression of pride and confidence. It is not often that you see true heroics but that is exactly what I saw on March 28, 2005 in the Bay of Islands in the waters just off the coast of the magnificent country called New Zealand. What a day.
User Reviews
Submitted by joedaddy (user info) at 2005-06-03 03:04:29 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by jumpinjellyfish (user info) at 2005-04-04 16:06:59 (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by proofofpurchase (user info) at 2005-04-04 14:07:50 (#)
Ranking: 2
That was Readers Digest good
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Yep
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Motion Passed
Submitted by Banga3386 (user info) at 2005-05-19 04:14:53 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
What a day indeed. I'm sorry I missed this.
Banga
Submitted by Smoothe (user info) at 2005-04-13 11:52:34 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
+2 for Samba Pa Ti on another post. You rock.
Submitted by kimmy02721 (user info) at 2005-04-05 12:37:33 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
needed pictures.
Submitted by Hairsphincter (user info) at 2005-04-04 23:00:28 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Kiwis are all kinds of awsum.
Submitted by r1nce (user info) at 2005-04-04 21:04:58 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by jumpinjellyfish (user info) at 2005-04-04 16:06:59 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by proofofpurchase (user info) at 2005-04-04 14:07:50 (#)
Ranking: 2
That was Readers Digest good
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Yep
Submitted by munkeypants (user info) at 2005-04-04 14:37:05 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
A three week vacation to NZ? Are you a brain surgeon?
What does that cost?
Submitted by Chinaski (user info) at 2005-04-04 14:28:07 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
pretty good...
Submitted by Duke_Diggler (user info) at 2005-04-04 14:26:34 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
not bad
Submitted by proofofpurchase (user info) at 2005-04-04 14:07:50 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
That was Readers Digest good