RESCUES BY LIFEBOAT

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28549, 31 March 1958, Page 7

RESCUES BY LIFEBOAT

Radio-Telephone Proves Value

The new radio-telephone link between the Sumner police and the Sumner lifeboat strikingly demonstrated its value early yesterday afternoon when a capsized yacht and its crew of two were picked up in 15 minutes. Mr E. A. Selman, of 62 Mt. Pleasant road, reported the yacht in trouble about 1.15 p.m. It was out from the Causeway, and there were no other boats about in the area. Constable J. H. McCormick, of the Sumner Police Station, immediately had the lifeboat siren sounded and while its crew was assembling he was able to give the exact location of the yacht on the matching grid maps held by both the police and lifeboat. While the lifeboat was putting out, “The Press” was speaking by telephone to the Sumner police. The radio communication between the station and the lifeboat was

so clear that, every word of the _ questions and answers from both ' ends could be heard as a background to the reporter’s conversation.

The lifeboat soon reported that it had taken the capsized yacht in tow, and the men were in good shape and preferred to remain perched on the hull, and that the little convoy was returning to the lifeboat shed. A little later, it reported that it was making a diversion to another yacht jn trouble. The yacht in tow was transferred to one of the patrol boats, and the lifeboat continued on to rescue the crew of the second capsized yacht. “When men are picked up from

the sea safely, their danger is likely to be discounted.” Constable McCormick said later. “The lifeboat crew, who do such a grand job, are no longer handicapped by being out of touch with the centre once they put to sea.”