Two crews from Marine Rescue Ulladulla are back on shore after a search operation on rolling seas to locate a boat that overturned in the early morning darkness near Sullivans Reef off the entrance to Ulladulla Harbour.
Rescue vessels Ulladulla 30 and UL 20 headed out on a two metre swell with a one metre sea and a southerly blowing at 15 knots.
The man and woman on board the 5.5m runabout managed to swim to shore and walk to a nearby caravan park to summon help after their boat capsized in the rough conditions about 6am.
The owner called the MR Ulladulla radio base at 7.10am, reporting the boat had overturned and his wife had been cut on rocks while swimming back to shore. A NSW Ambulance subsequently transported the couple to Milton Hospital.
Unit Commander David Hall said the crews had set up a search pattern for the two rescue vessels and used sea dye to ascertain a drift pattern for the capsized vessel.
“We believe we located the vessel in 25 metres of water, suspended at 10 metres depth,” he said. “I think it is the first time I have seen the actual rock of Sullivans Reef from the surface. We backed in pretty close to retrieve the first object, a container with first aid and other gear.
“The reef is a popular diving and fishing reef but it can be very treacherous. It was rolling this morning and I can imagine that the occupants of the capsized vessel would have been terrified, especially as it was pitch black this morning.”
The crew retrieved a range of fishing and other gear from the water. The Ulladulla radio base is broadcasting navigation warnings to alert boaters to exercise caution in the vicinity, with the submerged boat posing a potential hazard to other craft.
Photos: Dave Hall on board rescue vessel Ulladulla 20.
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