Newspaper Article 1999 – Coastguard in action

Coastguard in action

A crowd of several hundred gathered at Westshore beach on Sunday to get a close-up look at the region’s volunteer coastguard in action.

The scenario was a collision at sea between two boats, with crew from the craft being rescued by air (helicopter and winch) and sea.

The exercise was part of a national coastguard awareness day to highlight the work the volunteer crews carry out and also highlight the need for funding.

The service receives no financial assistance from the government and relies solely on grants and donations.

Sunday’s exercise went off smoothly with all the boaties in “distress” rescued.

Photo captions –

PICTURED, from top:

The Coastguard rescue craft goes through its paces as it passes a smoke marker dropped by the Hawke’s Bay Coastguard Air Patrol’s Piper Archer.

The crew prepare to abandon ship. The ignition of a couple of coloured smoke flares made for a realistic mock-collision scene.

A flare shoots into the blue sky. As several hundred spectators found out, even in bright sunshine an emergency flare makes its presence known.

For the crew of the Lowe Corporation rescue helicopter, it was another day at the office as they “rescued” a boatie in distress.

The rescue helicopter swoops low over the Westshore Surf Club.

Pictures: Richard Robinson