Refuge provided in Refuge Bay

A 50-foot yacht sought help from the Volunteer Marine Rescue Central Coast base when it became distressed off Lion Island in rough waters on January 3.

Publicity officer Mr Ron Cole said the marine base received an urgent call for help from a yacht carrying one person on board and had found its roller reefing gear jammed with the foresail and the engine would not start.

"The wind was 30 knots and gusting from the south/east, seas were three metres and rising," Mr Cole said.

"This yacht had a problem.

"Police were notified and Marine Rescue Central Coast was tasked to assist.

"Terry and his crew reached the yacht about 6.50pm.

"By then it was just half a nautical mile off Lion Island.

"Conditions had deteriorated with a thunderstorm, heavy rain and squally winds making life unpleasant and seas very confused.

"The rescue boat crew got a line aboard the yacht and began a tow towards Pittwater. "Progress was slow because of the strong southerly and the wind in the jammed sail.

"The yacht skipper and boat crew decided to head west to shelter under West Head so the owner could free the jammed sail.

"This was successful and it was then decided that the safest location overnight would be Refuge Bay.

"The yacht was placed on a mooring in the bay about 9.30pm."

Press release, 14 Jan 2010 Ron Cole, Volunteer Marine Rescue Central Coast