Deep Fog

By: Rebecca MacKinnon

It should have been a routine call. A 12 foot aluminum boat holding a family of four had broken down. They were located not more than two nautical miles from our base, so our response time should have been under 15 minutes. However, a deep fog had set in on this dark night and we could not see more than 20 feet in front of our vessel. The tediousness of picking our way through Georgian Bay's treacherous shoals slowed us significantly. We knew the waters well, but we were nonetheless fearful of coming upon an uncharted rock.

Luckily, the distressed vessel was equipped with a VHF radio and a strong spotlight. We worked together by setting up communications and using the spotlight to determine their exact location. Soon, the waters became too shallow for our Zodiac, however the distressed vessel was not more than 15 feet from us. After paddling out to meet us, we tied the vessel alongside and set back out through the shoals. Our return trip was much more difficult due to our added breadth. The two young children were cold and hungry, but were much calmer now that they were draped with blankets and huddled safely aboard the Zodiac.

Upon the arrival at their home, the family became excited that their night tour was finally over. Prior to heading back to base for our warm beds, we commended them for their boating knowledge, which enabled a smooth and successful rescue.