A VOLUNTEER crew has helped guide a 40-foot cruiser to safety after it lost its steering in rough seas off Newcastle close to midnight on Monday.
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Marine Rescue NSW said the vessel, a flybridge cruiser, was adrift near three bulk carriers with two people on board when the unit reached them.
The vessel had been headed from Port Macquarie south to the Central Coast when it was forced to radio Lake Macquarie and Terry Hills bases seeking urgent assistance about 11.15pm.
A Marine Rescue crew of three, including Newcastle unit commander Ron Calman as skipper and volunteers Rick Nevile and Lyn Van-Homrigh as crew, reached the vessel in rough seas, towing it into Newcastle harbour before sunrise.
Acting Hunter/Central Coast regional operations manager Glenn Evans praised the Marine Rescue volunteers.
“The crew faced two-metre seas and a 20-knot wind,” he said.
Rescue vessel Newcastle 30 towed the cruiser to berth at Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club about 4am.
It was one of 28 incidents reported to Marine Rescue in the Hunter and Central Coast over the long weekend. There were 83 incidents statewide.
Matt Carr
Matt began his Newcastle Herald career as a cadet in 2009. He is a Walkley nominated reporter who has covered councils, police and general news rounds across the Upper Hunter, Port Stephens, Maitland, Lake Macquarie, Cessnock and Newcastle. Now his focus is on digital storytelling and breaking news.
Matt began his Newcastle Herald career as a cadet in 2009. He is a Walkley nominated reporter who has covered councils, police and general news rounds across the Upper Hunter, Port Stephens, Maitland, Lake Macquarie, Cessnock and Newcastle. Now his focus is on digital storytelling and breaking news.
