Exciting Debut

June 22, 2009

Peter Bradley sure got the hang of how his new boat handles when he and a friend pulled three fishermen out of the water off Carrum today.

Peter had purchased his Botterill Explorer 16 only a week or two back and following her maiden voyage on Sunday, he decided to borrow a mooring at the club overnight and take her out for another run on Monday.

Rescueboat
Along with his mate Trevor they'd spent a pleasant morning sailing back and forward off the pier and were enjoying a hot drink about a mile offshore when they sighted a flare down to the South East.

They started up and headed in off to find three guys in the water clinging to an all but submerged tinnie. Apparently the bung in the bottom had come loose and it wasn't until the water was too high that the guys noticed the problem. Peter said "They were all pretty cold and needed to get out of the water as soon as possible and I thought surely there's a bigger, faster boat than mine for the rescue. But we were it."  

So with a bit of effort they pulled everyone on board and headed back towards the pier to find that emergency services had already been alerted and there was an ambulance in attendance.

Pete&Trev
Although pretty cold and shaken the three guys appear to have been ok. For Pete and Trev it was back to the Island to fold things up for the trip home. Peter will sign on as a Social Member for the short term and bring the Explorer down to the club from time to time. We're sure he won't forget his first trip!