Country Retreat - 73. Pan Pan Pan

“Good morning to you too boss, is that where you are at the moment? Is there a problem?” Hunter asked and I chuckled, “No nothing is wrong, just bring a Ute down to the beach please,” I asked before ending the call. “Five minutes later I heard what sounded like the buggy, which made me groan in annoyance. “How are we to get the blood dinghy up to the gate in that,” I complained as the buggy came into sight. “Oh, wow, not big enough, I better go back and get the trailer,” Hunter said as he pulled up beside us, then started to leave again.

“Wait, we can put it on the roof, we will just you as a weight to hold it down,” Marcus said to Hunter, and I laughed at this, “No bloody chance in hell are you doing that,” Hunter replied crossly, as Marcus smiled broadly, “Go and get the trailer, and hurry up about it,” I said to Hunter, who dashed off back the way he came. “You know, I don’t think he even noticed the vessel,” Marcus said and moments later he reappeared. “He has now,” I replied smiling.

“Oh wow, what a fancy boat. Is that your family’s boat?” Hunter asked when he stopped and looked out towards the vessel. “Yes, now instead of retrieving the trailer, go back and collect those who want to come for a short trip, and we will give them a call to get them ready,” I replied, and Hunter dashed off again, while Marcus was on the phone to Rebecca. Nearly twenty minutes later, three vehicles arrived with everyone from the property attending this sudden outing on the boat.

Jamison and Rebecca had made up some snacks and drinks, everyone was wearing swimwear and carrying towels, and after three trips, we had everyone onboard the vessel, with the two youngest boys issued life jackets to put on for their safety. Once the dinghy was back onboard and secured, we headed in a southwest direction, which Marcus said is the location of Big Horseshoe Reef, and with it being calm, some of us may be able to do some snorkelling as we are approaching the morning low tide.

Once anchored on the east side of the reef, which is just over 4-kilometres offshore, the aft ladder had been lowered, so people could get back onboard once they had gone for a swim. There were only six sets of snorkelling gear, so everyone would have to take it in turns to have a go. “With the boys wearing sandshoes for protection, Julia led the boys into the water and swam the short distance to the reef, which was just below the surface. Rebecca went with them and helped the boys explore the reef and the many fish that were swimming in one of the deeper pools within the reef, which fascinated the boys.

Marcus and I remained onboard the vessel, keeping a watch on the tide, and for any unwanted visitors, and forty minutes later as the tide began to rise, Marcus gave a short blast of the horn, which everyone knew was the signal to return to the vessel. Once everyone was onboard and dried off, we sat down to have a drink and eat some snacks for morning tea, which our chef had kindly provided at very short notice.

“Boss, we have visitors coming up the beach from the camping ground,” Marcus informed us, as he put down his binoculars and started up the engines, before heading back to the vehicles at the north end of the property near the gates. Ten minutes later, we arrived at the beach, with Marcus swinging the boat around and stopping the engines, while I lowered the main access ladder, as the boat brushed the sand underneath gently.

Once everyone was offloaded, I raised the ladder, and Marcus moved the boat further off the beach, as I watched our staff load up into the vehicles and head for the gates, which were closed and locked behind them, while Marcus kept an eye on the campers, who had now arrived at the rock barrier on the beach, and we travelled over to the floating pontoon, were we secured the boat, and remained indoors on the main deck, watching and waiting as the people from the campsite arrived on the beach and set up a gazebo and chairs.

When my phone rang, I saw that it was Hunter calling. “What is happening? Are those people still on the beach?” he asked me, “Yes, they have set up on the beach for a while by the looks of it. We are at the pontoon, and staying indoors at the moment, we will remain here and keep an eye on them for a while I think, before we set off back to Two Rocks, which is less than an hour away on this,” I replied, as I saw Marcus go to the fridge to see what had been left over from morning tea.

“Yum, we have sandwiches and drinks here, plenty for us to survive on for the rest of the day,” he commented smiling, and I chuckled at this. “Yeah, Rebecca did mention that she had left us some lunch in the fridge,” I responded, as Marcus pulled out two soft drinks and handed me one, just as I saw movement in the corner of my eye from the north, and I smiled when I realised that it was Lincoln on a Kayak, and I decided not to let Marcus know. “What are they doing on the beach now?” I asked to distract Marcus from Lincoln’s arrival. “Just sunbathing and sandcastle making mostly, and a few in the shallows of the water looking at us,” Marcus replied,

“Going to the loo, back in a moment,” I said before heading aft through the door and outside where Lincoln was almost at the small swim platform at the back of the vessel, that sits over the top of the two outboard motors. “Shh, he didn’t see you coming, I said I was going to the loo, you go in and I will bring the kayak onboard,” I said to Lincoln, who smiled and nodded his head as he climbed up, and I grabbed the strap at the front of the kayak. Once I had it onboard, I headed inside, and as I entered the main area, I heard the toilet flush, just as Marcus looked up and he frowned. “Who else is onboard, if it isn’t you in the bathroom?” he asked me.

I gave a short laugh, “Lincoln, he came via kayak and sneaked onboard,” I replied, “Sneaky bastard,” Marcus commented, “I heard that,” Lincoln responded and we all laughed. “Did you miss us mate?” Marcus asked, “Yes sort of, I was more interested in seeing what’s happening on the beach, and because I went out deep and came back behind the vessel no one noticed me on the kayak, well all except the boss,” Lincoln replied.

We chatted for a while before Lincoln pulled out the sandwiches and drinks from the fridge and set them out on the table for lunch and we sat down to eat. “Are you coming with us, back to Two Rocks?” Marcus asked as we ate. “Yes, if that is ok with the boss,” Lincoln replied, and I smiled and nodded my head yes. As we were finishing up our lunch, we felt the vessel rocking a little, and looking outside, we saw that the seas were a little choppy. “Looks like a rough ride back to the marina?” Lincoln commented, “No, it won’t be too bad, as this skims along the water and you hardly feel it,” Marcus replied.

“They are packing up and walking back to the campsite,” Lincoln said after looking out the window towards the beach. “That is good, we will stay a little longer before we head off,” Marcus said to us as he headed up to the bridge, no doubt to check on the weather report. After half an hour, and a quick phone call to Rebecca to let her know we were heading back down the coast, we prepared to leave as I undid the ropes to the pontoon, and coiled them up on the deck before heading inside.

“Pan pan pan, this is sailing yacht Emily. Pan pan pan sailing Yacht Emily, does anyone copy over?” we heard a call over the marine radio. “This is the support vessel Manakoora receiving your call Sailing yacht Emily, over,” we heard Marcus reply. “Thank goodness, we are approximately 3 nautical miles south of the coastal town of Ledge Point heading south, our Bosun is having difficulties breathing, and his lips are turning blue, what do we do over,” the concerned voice said.

“Wonderful, how far are you from the coast? There are hidden reefs within 1.5 nautical miles off the coast, stay as far out as you can and keep coming down the coast, we are only 2 nautical miles southeast of your current position we will meet you shortly with a medical team over,” Marcus replied and by now Lincoln was on his mobile talking to someone at the complex. “… Hurry as it is very urgent,” I heard him say before ending the call.

“First aid kit is in the locker near the bathroom,” I said to Lincoln, and he dashed downstairs, “Not any in here, but I have one coming from the compound,” we heard Lincoln call out, “Not any what?” I asked when he returned to the bridge deck. “Adrenaline, go to the beach so we can pick it up, Rebecca is getting it for us, sounds like he may have an anaphylactic shock from an allergy,” Lincoln replied, as Marcus turned the vessel for shore, and we saw a quad bike racing along the beach from the southern gate.

Jumping off while it was still slightly moving, we watched as Rebecca raced into the water and began swimming towards us Marcus stopped the vessel and I raced downstairs to get the medicine. Once she was onboard, I shouted out “Go now,” to Marcus, who took us at full speed after making a short turn and headed north. “Sailing Yacht Emily, this is a paramedic onboard the Support vessel Manakoora, what is his condition over,” Lincoln asked, “ He is barely breathing, over,” came a worried reply, as Rebecca appeared towelling off from the swim.

“There is the yacht, coming in fast,” Rebecca called out, “Sailing yacht Emily drop your sails, we are approaching you from the southeast, over,” Marcus said over the radio, and a few moments later we saw the yachts, main sails been pulled down, as we neared her, and I saw someone putting out the cushions to protect the yacht from any damage and we were soon tied up alongside, as Lincoln and Rebecca jumped onboard, with Rebecca having a shoulder pack that she had brought with her, now free of the waterproof bag that it was in and dashed below deck.

A few moments later, “Manakoora, confirmation of Anaphylaxis, adrenalin has been administered, and the patient is improving, prepare for transfer, we need to take him to the hospital for monitoring, over,” Rebecca said over the radio, “Copy that,” Marcus replied, as Lincoln and I headed outside and onto the yacht. “Hi, I am the skipper – Lionel, thank you for coming to the rescue to help my Bosun Charles, so fast,” a man said as we climbed onboard. “You are welcome, you are in luck as we have two qualified paramedics with us today, and they will take great care,” I replied.