December 9, 2015

The Brentwood Bay Power and Sail Squadron field trip from Sidney to Genoa Cove, BC was set up to test their Students Navigation skills. After tying off at the Genoa Cove Marina for lunch the group was the introduced to Jeff Crouse of the Brentwood Bay RCM-SAR . His team explain the workings of the Royal Canadian Marine-Search and Rescue units in BC and then put on a man overboard demonstration.

The Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue formerly the Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary (Pacific) is a volunteer organization of over 1,000 people from many backgrounds who give up a great deal of their own time to train, be trained, and be on standby, in case they are needed to respond to a marine emergency on the water. These volunteers have the use of modern well equipped rescue vessels that are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. 

The rescue vessels used are, for the most part, rigid hull inflatables. Most of the fleet of 41 vessels are less than 5 years old, and owned by societies local to the area where their vessels operate. The funds for building these vessels has to a large degree been provided by BC Gaming, as well as through significant corporate contributions, legacies, private donations and fundraising. Donations have also paid for much of the volunteers´ protective clothing as well as the equipment on board. Many thanks goes to these contributors. 

Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue’s area of operations is based on the Pacific coast of British Columbia which has more than 27,000 kilometres of rugged coastline, over 6,000 islands (most uninhabited), and approximately 450,000 square kilometres of internal and offshore waters. 

It is a challenge to provide search and rescue response capability to such a large area, and our volunteers meet the challenge with determination and professionalism, and assist those in peril on the sea.

If you are up for an exciting challenge give them a call.