Fishermen rescue sailors in distress

| 11/12/2018 | 22 Comments
Cayman News Service

The Ziggy III assists the vessel in distress (click to enlarge)

(CNS): Police have commended the actions of a fishing crew who helped rescue a sailboat and three people on board at the weekend following a report that the vessel was in trouble. Officers from the RCIPS Air Support Unit pointed to the importance of the assistance boaters in Cayman offer other vessels when they are in trouble, which helps keep people safe in local waters. In this case, just before 3pm on Saturday the 911 Communications Centre received a report of a vessel in distress off the George Town waterfront.

The 65-foot sailboat had experienced engine trouble and was drifting out to sea with three people on board. The police helicopter went to assist, along with a Joint Marine Unit vessel from the North Sound. The helicopter crew located the sailboat and contacted a nearby fishing vessel to assist, as the JMU was still en route. The fishermen aboard the Ziggy III responded immediately and were able to safely tow the struggling sailboat to George Town harbour.

“We are very grateful to the crew of the Ziggy III, who did not hesitate to help,” said Neil Mohammed, Deputy Executive Officer of the Air Operations Unit. “When incidents happen at sea it is often civilian vessels already nearby who can respond most quickly, and they rarely hesitate to do so. This collaboration between law enforcement and private citizens is an important aspect of keeping Cayman and our waters safe.”

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Comments (22)

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  1. Loss Adjuster says:

    I trust the Master of the Ziggy III insisted on a Lloyd’s Open Form contract to engage in the tow; also I would hope the owner of the yacht has insurance to cover salvage claims.

    This was definitely not a rescue.

  2. Anonymous says:

    This was not a mayday nor a rescue mission.
    But rescue sounds good in the headline.
    It was a simple tow. One boater assisting the other.
    Mainsail and headsail are both furled, so maybe electric whinches and empty batteries

    A simple assist and without the word rescue it is not interesting to publish

  3. Anonymous says:

    The night of the Parade of lights at Caymana Bay, the police where at the entrance to Caymana Bay in there boat when the port authority was calling for assistance for a boat in distress. The police boat didn’t even go, even though they have the equipment and training to deal with it. Shocking

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    • Just go says:

      The guy calling did not need help. He was in Govenors Harbour fishing and anchored. Nothing else. No danger. He eventualy called his brother who came and towed him 250yrds to the Yatch Club launch ramp.

      The Police Boat was busy doing a safety excersise. They are not a towing company. They are supposed to save lives, not boats. Geeeeeezzzzz

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  4. Anonymous says:

    If only there was some way to have some sort of heavy canvas or some broad material that you could string up between that big pole in the middle and some wires to spread it out. Then you might be able to catch some wind and blow you back to safety!

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    • Anonymous says:

      I think I remember watching about that on the history channel where some alien civilization gifted the human race with some device of that type. Too bad it never took off as it was too complicated for men at that time in history.

  5. Anonymous says:

    It doesn’t look as if any sails are fitted on the boat.

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    • Anonymous says:

      If you look carefully, they actually do have the Jib attached and coiled up in its stowed position, but As other people have said, if their is no wind then unfortunately they wont be able to over power the current pulling them offshore.

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  6. Anonymous says:

    Far as I can remember Saturday was dead calm , sailing doesn’t work too well on days with no wind, the current was what was pulling them away, so it’s not always that clear cut

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    • Anonymous says:

      Yeah butt. You still have to have SAILS on the boat for it to work like that.
      You can see from the boat that NO EFFORT was being made to put up non-existent sails. If you don’t have sails, you can’t catch a puff of anything.

      Ya’ll keep making excuses for this guy coz there was no wind… Whatevvs.

      Signed
      Popeye

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      • Anonymous says:

        Popeye is right!

        Regards,
        Olive Oil

      • Anonymous says:

        If under tow I would imagine that the sail would act like a giant air-break meaning you’d be towing the boat and the sail would be catching the wind meaning more work and harder to steer. So a picture of a sailboat under tow I would expect them to have the sails furled, i.e., out of sight.

  7. Anonymous says:

    A sail boat with engine problems that required a tow back to shore……so the persons having a sail boat doesn’t know how to sail? ???

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  8. Anonymous says:

    Well done Cutis Eldemire and Giuseppe Rossi..

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  9. Tom says:

    It is international marine law to respond any Mayday calls on VHF and rescue them if you are near to distress boat.

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  10. Anonymous says:

    Sail boats have sails? Pull them up and sail you ass back to shore…. good job Ziggy III

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  11. Anonymous says:

    Great job guys. This is what it’s all about??

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