Royal Volunteer Coastal patrol
Reckon they're rescue ready
Day or night, fair weather or foul, a lifeboat crew from Ulladulla Costal Patrol is on standby to help boat owners in distress.
On average this happens 50 times a year. Sometimes it's a simple tow after a mechanical failure - or it can be the distressing search for survivors after a capsize.
There are four crews, each with five or six members, on a rolling roster. This means for one week in every four the crew members must be on standby for 24 hours a day.
The unpaid volunteers are prepared to respond instantly to an alert and are rarely more than 10 minutes from the base while on duty. It is not unusual for one of the two rescue vessels to be clearing the harbour breakwater less than 15 minutes after a call for help
A proud past and powerful present
The peaceful waters of Ulladulla Harbour have been home to the Royal Volunteer Coastal Patrol for more than a quarter of a century.
It provides a 24-hour radio monitoring and search and rescue service every day of the year. The two vessels, the rapid response 6-metre catamaran Kylie III and Waveney class lifeboat P&O Nedlloyd Strathallan, average 50 rescues a year.
In the latest financial year they helped over 100 people and assisted vessels worth $1.3 million.
Enjoy safe boating? Join the club
And the Costal Patrol service, also known as the radio club, must be the cheapest insurance available to recreational boaters at less than 50 cents a week.
It costs just a $5 joining fee and $20 annual subscription and the fees also help support Australia's oldest and most respected marine search and rescue service.
Neil said: As leisure hours grow and more people are messing about in boats the RVCPs role continues to expand.
But, he said, it remains a community service a registered charity depending on voluntary contributions for the income required to keep its rescue vessels afloat.
When you are ready to set off to enjoy your day cruising or fishing, call the Patrol base on the 27 MHz marine channel 88 or VHF channel 16.
Drop into the base or ring 4455 3403 for an application form. It could be the best $25 you have ever spent.
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