Search and Rescue Dispatches

SCSAR Rope Rescue         October 10.2016

 

Preparing for the season of shorter days and colder nights, Search and Rescue (SAR) teams on the Sunshine Coast remain busy on land and on the water. Volunteer crews have responded to taskings, heeded the call to go back to school and welcomed new recruits to their stations.

In September, Sunshine Coast Search and Rescue assisted four hikers in the Chapman Creek area and a hiker who had fallen and injured an ankle on the Skookumchuck Trail.  In both instances, volunteers helped to guide or deliver lost or hurt adventurers to safety.  On Sept 25th, 34 local mountain bikers gathered  to race and express their thanks to the local Sunshine Coast Search & Rescue.  Winners of the BRAT Enduro were decided by a handicap scoring system based on the racer’s age.   This meant that fastest overall racers Magnus Manson and Katie Button conceded defeat to their elders; Bob Stanhope and Allison Lynch.  A fun time was had by all and $750 went to Search and Rescue.

Sunshine Coast Search and Rescue will be having an open house Saturday Nov. 5th from 1-4 PM at the John Hind Smith Hall (1975 Field Road-next to the SCRD building). The public is welcome to come view our operations and celebrate 40 years of serving the Sunshine Coast.

On the water, Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue‘s Fall Recruiting Campaign brought forward over a dozen capable and enthusiastic new volunteers to commence training with our station in Halfmoon Bay/Sechelt.  New recruits will pursue both classroom theory and practical skill training, including Pleasure Craft Operators Certification, Local Area Knowledge, First Aid, Restricted Operator Course-Maritime and self rescue training over the upcoming Fall/Winter months.

Station 12 has been tasked with several Pan Pan calls, responding to a state of urgency but no immediate danger to anyone’s life or to vessels.  A recent night call involved a 22’ sailboat which had lost both rudder and power.  Thanks to concerned homeowners on shore who sent SOS signals off Trail Islands, the vessel and its two cold and scared owners were towed to a safe harbour.

The station and its society members are busy preparing for the upcoming “Beer and Burger” fundraiser and silent auction at the Lighthouse Pub on Thursday, 5-9:00 p.m. November 3rd .  All members of the community are invited to join us for what promises to be a fun event!

By Jane Macdonald,

RCMSAR Station 12 Volunteer

 

 

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