THREE people rescued when their 11.5m catamaran ran aground off Western Australia’s south coast on 1 July have been praised by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority for being properly prepared.
AMSA received a distress beacon signal at 5am WA time after the catamaran ran aground at Cow and Calf Rocks, 150km west of Albany.
The distress signal was received from an emergency position indicating radio beacon (EPIRB), and personal locator beacon (PLB).
AMSA was also able to communicate directly with the three people on board the catamaran using a Garmin positioning device.
“Given the remoteness of the incident, the crew of the catamaran demonstrated exceptional preparedness carrying three different distress beacons, all of which contributed to their successful rescue,” AMSA said in a statement to DCN.
AMSA’s Perth-based Challenger rescue aircraft and the RAC helicopter from Bunbury were dispatched along with a marine rescue vessel from Windy Harbour.
The RAC rescue helicopter was first on the scene and winched a paramedic down to the vessel to check for injuries.
When the Windy Harbour Marine Rescue unit reached the scene it towed the catamaran for three hours back to Windy Harbour.
All three people on board are reported to be uninjured.
Conditions in the area were heavy with 50-60 kph winds and 2-3 metre seas.
