Salish Rescue Port Townsend

You know how in the movie ‘Top Gun’, as soon as training is over, the entire class gets tasked to respond to a real emergency?

Our students had their very own ‘Top Gun’ moment this past Saturday. Just as training was wrapping up at 5:30pm, we received a call from a kayak tour guide concerned about an abandoned vessel adrift near Rat Island. Since all of our students were available for a couple more hours, we conducted a dockside briefing, assigned boat crews, and got everyone underway.

On arrival in the area, our three boats spread out to run a search for the described vessel: “a small catamaran with no rig, approximately 16’ long and 10’ beam, low to the water with solar panels on top”. The vessel was located after a brief search, assessed, and placed under tow by a student-operated vessel.

While the tow was being established, the other student-operated vessel began a shoreline search in case the adrift vessel had been taken off the beach by the tide, which had only reached peak high about half an hour before the call came in. They were unable to locate anyone who appeared to be missing a vessel, so the catamaran was towed to the Boat Haven Fuel dock.

While on the way back, new information became available that the adrift vessel may belong to someone at anchor near Port Townsend, so all three vessels consucted a second search, hoping to locate the possible owners. The owner was not located, but efforts are underway to contact the owner and return their vessel.

If you know who this vessel belongs to, and have a way to contact them, please let them know the vessel has been secured to the Port Townsend Fuel Dock, and was still there as of 6pm on Sunday, 9/1

Another busy training weekend!

Captains Elijah Johnston and Alden Rohrer led 148 total training hours, which saw 12 people build familiarity with boats and equipment, practice skills needed for Wooden Boat Festival, assist the recently-restored S/V ‘Dorjun’ out for her first post-restoration sail, and even run an actual rescue call. Across this weekend and last weekend, 17 people put in 204 training hours, advancing their skills, expertise, and professionalism in maritime rescue.

Please join us in our appreciation of all these students on their hard work and dedication. They’re doing big things in this world, and we’re proud to be part of it!

This morning’s call came in bright and early!

“A 28’ sailboat with an electric motor that wouldn’t run, bobbing around off Protection Island in not-quite-enough wind, wanting to return to John Wayne Marina (Sequim).

So we launched ‘Rooster’ from Port Townsend, and started around to Diamond Point, where we were able to contact the sailboat and establish a tow. This was Rowen’s first rescue outside of safety cover events, and she drove the whole way from Diamond Point to John Wayne Marina (including Sequim Bay’s sometimes tricky entrance channel!).

All secure, all happy. Time to go home and (grumble) do the dishes…”

If you ever find yourself in a similar situation, you can reach us at our dispatch number (360) 385-1210

If you want to support the work we do, please consider sending us some gas money at:

https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=3ULM4D84DGDUE

Train like you’re going to perform!

Over the course of this past weekend, we took out 10 people for a total of 56 hours of training time in preparation for Wooden Boat Festival 2024. Students and instructors practiced docking, close maneuvering, line handling, and dock safety - the core responsibilities of the Festival Harbormaster team many of our students will be volunteering with.

Come see our students perform on Thursday, September 5th as they help stuff Point Hudson with Festival boats!

Good local opportunity for one of the most important skills everyone can learn

August 31st CPR/First Aid Class.

We have openings for our CPR/First Aid Class scheduled for August 31st at 10am at the Quilcene Fire Station! This class is expected to fill up fast so if you are interested please call us at 360-765-3333 or Email [email protected] to register, be placed on the waiting list or for more information.

We will be announcing future classes so if you are unable to attend the class above keep an eye out on our page and website www.QuilceneFireRescue.org for future class announcements.

This past Saturday, Salish Rescue volunteers took boats, gear, and a drone down to Port Ludlow and gave a live demonstration of the tools and techniques used to rescue a swimmer or POB (person over-board) to gathered members of Port Ludlow and Eagle Harbor Yacht Clubs.

Watch for future posts with first-person footage of the simulated rescues!

Last night we finally got to sea trial ‘Rooster’!

There are a few tweaks to be made, and a couple minor maintenance items to address, but otherwise our new primary response boat is ready to run!

(And wow is she fast)

And now for the main event!

This morning we’ve heard from presenters who spoke on how the Coastal Nations Coast Guard Auxiliary functions and how the Canadian Coast Guard has expanded and fostered community-based response in the arctic.

We also got the cool, official swag, and have great views of Canadian Navy, Coast Guard, and SAR vessels running exercises, including HMCS Regina departing for France!

The answer has finally caught up to us in Victoria!

Today: a SAR demonstration by Coastal Nations Coast Guard Auxiliary, Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue, and Canadian Coast Guard Station Victoria which featured an actually-sinking vessel and highlighted the capabilities of Canada’s lifesaving services to interface with each other

Tomorrow: the ‘Indigenous & Remote Community Maritime SAR Conference & Workshop’, hosted by the International Maritime Rescue Federation - IMRF in Esquimalt

https://www.international-maritime-rescue.org/Event/imrf-regional-meeting-and-maritime-sar-workshop

So far, we’ve already learned a lot, and have seen our gear wishlist double in size!

Check our page for videos of today’s demo

We made it!

But there’s still that lingering question of *why* we’re here.

For another hint, look back through our recent posts.

It should be easy to guess where we’re going, but the important question is ‘why?’

Stay tuned to find out!

Hint: It’s not for the Stage 2 start of Race To Alaska, though we do plan to go watch

See you all at 5am!

We’ll be in the (two smaller) red boats for the start of Race To Alaska

(Photo taken by Thomas Scott Gregory)

**BIG NEWS INCOMING**

We have three really exciting announcements to make this week:

First, yesterday we received a new-to-us West Marine 310 RHIB which will be joining ‘Phoenix’ as a teaching boat. The new boat does not have a name, yet, but is currently being referred to as ‘Phoenix 2’. If you have a name suggestion, drop it in the comments!

Second, in mid-May a very generous donor chose us as the new home for his Zodiac Pro 550, so that we can put it to use as an operations boat. Those who have been around a while know how much we enjoy our big red inflatables, and now you’ll be seeing another one out on the water providing outreach and rescue services as soon as outfitting is complete! The working name for this boat is ‘Rooster’ (because it was a total barn-find), but that may change by launch date.

Last, our application to join International Maritime Rescue Federation - IMRF was approved this week! We hope to take advantage of all that membership has to offer, and bring the expertise of global counterparts to our community so that we can continue to learn and grow.

As excited as we are about all these potential avenues for growth, they all come with the same challenge - cost. Although we try to always keep our programs and services free or low-cost, there is a not insignificant cost that comes with providing those programs and services.

If you think you, your family, or your business may be interested in sponsoring one of our vessels or educational programs, please reach out to [email protected]

For all other donations, go to our website - www.salishrescue.org - and click the ‘donate’ button

Thanks for having us out this past weekend Northwest Maritime!

See you again this coming weekend for Race To Alaska!

Almost made it all weekend without a rescue call, but with the southerly that came up around noon, there was a last minute opportunity for our crews to go to work doing what we do best.

The racer caught a ride on the fast boat, and his rowboat caught a ride behind the less-fast boat.

The important part is everyone is warm, dry, and safe.

What do all three of these SEVENTY48 race teams have in common?

They met us at the correct part of the course - the finish line!

So far we haven’t met any teams elsewhere on the course, but we’ll be around all weekend in case the need arises.

This week we wrapped up our Spring Middle School program at the YMCA of Jefferson County, with students finally doing their first hands-on rescues into a boat, and practicing capsize and recovery.

There's still a lot for them to learn before we set them loose on real emergencies in the big water, but we're incredibly proud of their efforts, and want to take this opportunity to congratulate them on the growth and development of their leadership and communication skills, their desire to learn, and their drive to take on more and bigger challenges.

Want to follow their lead? Watch for future announcements regarding more educational programs throughout the year!

Happy National Search and Rescue Week!

that besides being National Safe Boating Week, it is also National Search and Rescue Week?

Last year, U.S. Coast Guard professionals on boats, ships, and aircraft saved 5,778 lives and 74.5 million dollars in property.

Prepare for a safe summer on the water by ensuring you are wearing a lifejacket and carrying reliable means of communication!

Learn more about National SAR Week here:
https://www.mycg.uscg.mil/News/Article/3781904/happy-national-sar-week/



U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) NOAA Satellite and Information Service NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration United States Air Force Air National Guard

This week in class, students experienced all the fun (and challenges) exposure suits can offer. For some, this meant a suit that was either a little too small or much too large. For others, swimming three laps and feeling like it was thirty.

Over the course of the afternoon, we got to watch them develop their leadership and communication skills, which culminated in a combined drill, where all of the day's skills were combined into a single exercise that tested their abilities from every angle.

While we hope students will never need to go real world with exposure suits, they now have another tool in their kits to share with the world!

Special thanks to Northwest Maritime for letting us borrow the exposure suits, and YMCA of Jefferson County for providing such an excellent training environment!

An excellent opportunity for free, specialized first-aid training!

All during the month of May, you can register for free bleeding control classes, all across America, from New York to Washington State! But you’ve got to act fast, because seating is limited. Don’t miss out - register today!

Register Now for a STOP THE BLEED® course through North American Rescue Training, or the American College of Surgeons

https://www.narescue.com/stop-the-bleed-2024-training-classes

It’s that time of year, again!

Come see us as The Connectivity Fair JeffCo this coming Saturday at Chimacum Schools. Learn about our education and volunteer opportunities, hear from current students about their experiences, and get an early look at some of the projects we have in the works!

On Friday the 22nd, Salish Rescue volunteers had the opportunity to get underway in support of the Northwest Maritime Center’s annual longboat capsize drill.

The drill is an essential part of training longboat captains and maintaining skills used to keep each other safe.

Our only rescue of the day was an exposure suit stuff sack that drifted away from the longboat.