59° North Sailingvideo
Radar Boat Rescue
June 18, 2024 · 49 min · 211 views
What this video covers
A 65-foot sailboat successfully located a drifting, uncrewed vessel off the coast of Barbados using marine radar after the smaller boat dragged its anchor and drifted out to sea.5:23 The owner of the Danish-flagged X-46 had left the boat anchored in a steep, rocky shelf area while the family was ashore. When the crew of the 65-foot boat realized the vessel was missing, they initiated a search in low-visibility, hazy conditions. Because the drifting boat had no AIS signal and no lights, visual spotting proved impossible. The searchers activated their radar and identified a target approximately six miles away, moving at 1.5 knots. By utilizing ARPA (Automated Radar Plotting Aid) to lock onto the target, they confirmed its course and speed, allowing them to intercept the drifting boat before nightfall. The incident highlights the necessity of maintaining an active AIS transponder and anchor watch, even when a vessel is left in a seemingly secure anchorage.
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