JonDLundyn Parker book 2 #3/4
December 30th 2006 06:35
Capt Rawlings Cruiser
Captain Des Rawlings was on the deck of his private motor launch before sunrise checking for bird droppings that may have despoiled his deck and coach house roof during the night. He was dressed in a woollen sweater with baggy jeans tucked into white sea boots. Crossing the fore deck he switched on his saltwater deck pump and started to hose down his mini ship. There was heavy dew settled on his vessel and he detested the gathered fresh water on his decks. Hosing this off as well as some bird droppings he then coiled away his hose and made for the galley and hot coffee. At 0445 hours the Bureau had put out its latest weather maps. He was keen to look at them and with his brew in his hand he sat at his computer console. The weather map showed that the low-pressure system was still making its way down the Queensland coast and at this stage still many miles out to sea and not affecting the coast too much. The four-day forecast map however suggested that the system would deteriorate and become a hazard. The New South Wales coast was being set up for typical “black nor east blow”
Captain Rawlings typed a brief note on his computer then highlighted it, pressed edit, copy and then went to his e-mail site and on a new e-mail he hit the paste button. He sent his e-mail to all the operators that were on call for A.N.S.W.E.R.S, (Australian National Salt Water Emergency Response Squadron) As commodore of this squadron it was his responsibility to see that it ran smoothly. ANSWERS had taken on a role left vacant by the now defunct coast guard and coastal patrol services. It was the only real (and brand new) volunteer marine rescue service operating on the coast. Operated by fellow seaman such as himself who had retired from active duty. They were a well-trained and efficient force. They trained personnel from outside their sphere as well and these people often became their crew. They worked solely from their own private vessels and were on call for any emergency that may happen on the water anywhere.
Their vessels ranged from converted fifty-meter ocean going tugs to five-meter half cabin runabouts. Each vessel was under the control of a skipper that was at minimum trained as an efficient coxswain through to ex passenger liner captains. They stayed in touch daily through e-mail, radio and CDMA mobile phones. Their rescues were becoming world famous news in their simple and heroic style. They were not government or publicly funded but each serious rescue received a reward from the vessel or owner’s insurance company. Today, Des thought was looking like the start of a serious amount of bad weather and consequently problems on the water.
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