Orion lights up rescue

By Andrew Stackpool

* No. 10 Squadron’s AP-3C Rescue 250 took off from RAAF Base Edinburgh after midnight on August 31 to assist a 12m yacht in stormy seas in the Great Australian Bight. The yacht was located just after 1.15am and an illumination flare dropped.

The crew of Rescue 250, from 10SQN, that assisted in the rescue of a yacht in the Great Australian Bight on September 1. FLTLT Alex Genz; FLGOFF Christopher Birrer; WOFF Brenton Bell; FSGT Stuart Turner; FLGOFF Erin O’Neill; WOFF Ray Bailey; FSGT Kathryn Ramsbotham; FSGT Richard Charles; and WOFF Jason Bomm.

Photo by LAC Casey Smith

The yacht found.

The yacht sinking at the stern.

Huge swells head towards the yacht.

Close inspection shows the sails have been lost.

A fishing vessel reaches the yacht after sailing 80km.

The fishing vessel waits until the seas are lower to rescue the sailors.

TWO yachtsmen in the Southern Ocean are safe, thanks, in part, to the efforts of the crew of No. 10 Squadron’s AP-3C Rescue 250 from RAAF Base Edinburgh.

The Orion launched from the base shortly after midnight on August 31, following a request for assistance from the Australian Search and Rescue organisation (AusSAR) to assist a 12m yacht in danger of foundering.

The yacht was in the Great Australian Bight, about 320km west of Port Lincoln, battling winds in excess of 90km/h and heavy seas.

The high-seas drama began some hours earlier when the yacht broadcast a MAYDAY call. It reported that it had been damaged in the severe weather when its sea anchor was caught by a wave and smashed through the wheelhouse windows, and was taking water.

Without her sails set, the yacht had rolled over a number of times and the bilge pumps were unable to keep up with the water rushing in through the broken windows. The crew was requesting immediate rescue.

AusSAR diverted a US Air Force C-17 tanker that was en route from RAAF Base Richmond to RAAF Base Pearce to locate the yacht and provide a communications relay link.

It also tasked a civil aircraft to assist but that aircraft was not authorised to conduct Air Sea Rescue Kit (ASRK) drops at night. Air Force Hercules and Orion aircraft are the only aircraft so authorised.

Because of the deteriorating weather and the nature of the emergency, no-one could predict how long the yacht would stay afloat. The Rescue Coordination Centre (RCC) requested Air Force provide an Orion to assist with the search and drop a life raft and ASRK if needed.

Flight Lieutenant Alex Genz from No. 10 Squadron, who commanded the mission, said there was doubt that the aircraft could take off because of the atrocious conditions – it was raining and gusting up to 60km/h.

“We were fortunate and managed to pick a gap where the runway dried a little and the wind strength reduced somewhat,” he said.

The Orion took off shortly after midnight.

While the Orion was being readied, the C-17 arrived on task and established communications with the yacht. Meanwhile, a 35m fishing vessel about 80km from the yacht advised that it had also received the MAYDAY and was proceeding to the area.

Eventually, the C-17 was forced to leave the area as it was running low on fuel and a civilian aircraft was diverted to re-establish communications. Shortly afterwards, the yacht reported that it had taken a large wave and lost its life raft, which the crew were making ready in case they had to abandon ship.

Flight Lieutenant Genz said that about 1.15am, he advised the yacht the Orion was about two minutes from their position. The landing lights were turned on to give the yacht a “warm and fuzzy” that someone was there to help.

“We also informed them a fishing vessel was making good way and should be in their vicinity within the hour,” he said.

“We then climbed to 1500m and dropped an illumination flare [which assisted the fishing vessel locate the yacht].

“From our observations, the ocean was throwing the yacht around significantly. However, conditions were improving slightly and wind speeds dropped to a maximum of 56km/h as the major frontal system passed.”

The AP-3C remained overhead until the rescue vessel arrived at about 2am. The master of the fishing vessel decided conditions were too dangerous to attempt a rescue in the dark and said he would remain nearby and effect the transfer at first light.

Shortly afterwards, the RCC advised the Orion that it could return to base. As they did so, the crew could hear the two vessels talking to each other as the yacht crew related its experiences.

“Our skin crawled just listening,” Flight Lieutenant Genz said.

Subsequently, the fishing vessel was able to secure alongside the yacht and rescue its two crew. Their condition was reported as good. They were very fatigued but suffering little more than cuts and abrasions. Unfortunately, the yacht could not be saved.

For Rescue 250, the drama continued as it neared Edinburgh. It heard that the tower was closed and that the crosswinds were between 48km/h and 64km/h. Operations quickly had the tower manned but conditions became very bumpy below 450m.

“We needed a third approach to grease on to terra firma again, because of the increasing winds on the first two approaches,” he said.

“It was a real relief for us.”

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