Category: News & Events

 

 

 

On Friday 25 Aug 2023 crewmembers sailed the Delta L/B in the afternoon to Britannia Shipyards for the Richmond Maritime Festival. At arrival, the Delta L/B crew hoisted celebratory flags and prepared the boat for the festival. Mary and John Horton exhibited John’s maritime paintings in the Seine Net Loft. At 18:00 the crew attended a reception with all the boat owners, festival organizers, Richmond council members, Mayor Malcolm Brodie, and MLA Kelly Green. She is the MLA for Richmond-Steveston and also the Parliamentary Secretary for Fisheries and Aquaculture. Both the mayor and MLA gave short speeches welcoming everyone to this recurring festival. 

On Saturday the Delta L/B received many visitors during the day. Children were intrigued by Oscar who was on display on the dock. Also, the bell on the bridge was a great hit with them like in previous years. Every hour John More sounded the bugle call. There was a great interest in the Delta and amazement at the fact that she is still operational. 

On Sunday one of the Canadian Coast Guard hovercrafts came into the harbour for a sail past. Although there were fewer visitors than yesterday the crew was still busy the whole day. Some visitors showed an interest in joining the CLI. Brochures were distributed and names were noted down. At 18:00 the festival came to an end and the crew packed up for the return trip to Ladner harbour. The CLI got a lot of exposure during this weekend and hopefully some new members. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On 26 Aug the Fraser Lifeboat engaged in a fishery patrol for the native fishery taking place. We provided the number of vessels engaged in fishing and then traffic asked us to escort a deep-sea container ship from Steveston to Alex Fraser Bridge. Several vessels had to be asked to move as they were on the ranges.

The Delta Lifeboat departed Tuesday, 22 Aug 2023 at 13:30 for a native fishery patrol. A total of 11 fishing boats were seen between Steveston and Lafarge. Although the crew observed many jumping salmon, the nets of the fishermen were nearly empty. Two tug and barges were escorted upriver. 

 

 

 

Fraser Lifeboat came across a unique hazard to navigation in Sea Reach on 05 Aug 2023. It consists of a small dingy anchored with a solar light and a mannequin in a bikini. 2 Floats spaced out on each side were also seen. Though it was done for no wake purposes, this impedes navigation in a navigable waterway and is a definite hazard at night. Coast Guard Radiowas alerted and they advised they would investigate. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The False Creek Racing Canoe Club organized again this year a race circumnavigating scenic Bowen Island in Howe Sound. The CLI was requested to provide a safety vessel for this event. On Friday, July 28th the Delta L/B departed at 18:00 for transit to Snug Cove. The sea was calm and after an uneventful transit, the Delta L/B anchored 21:40 at Mannion Bay.  

The following day ‘Call the Hands’ (get out of bed) was at 06:30 in order for the crew to light the stove and get the hearty breakfast ready and devoured before RCM SAR 14 was expected to come alongside. At 08:05 Bill and his SAR team came alongside to discuss the event. It was a pleasant surprise to see former CLI crewmember Gary W, who moved to Gibsons and joined RCM SAR 14 2 years ago. Brian and Adrian left with RCM SAR 14 to attend the race committee meeting at Crippen Park Snug Cove to discuss the event and the safety role Delta and the RHIB were going to play during today’s paddling event. 

Halfway through the race, a kayaker flipped over and Delta L/B was there to help. The kayaker indicated that he was OK by using the tap on the head, which is also used by divers when they are at the surface. By using a bailing pump, he was able to empty the kayak, climb back in, and continue the race. He informed the crewmembers this was the first time this happened to him in 30 years of racing. 

Around 15:00 the race came to an end and the Delta L/B was released from its task. RCM SAR14 came alongside to pick up crew who were going back with the ferry to Horseshoe Bay. The Delta L/B departed Mannion Bay but while on the way had to return because a fender was lost and needed to be retrieved (successfully). The transit back to Ladner was again uneventful and the Delta  L/B secured at 18:41 at the lifeboat station.