Delivered July 4, 2007 1800 hrs
Date June 18th 2007
Ref: 34.5 ft Sea Vee “Whicked”

Received original call from Gary Simmons (Ocean Rescue & Recovery-359-5110 or 359-5510) asking if we have any over due vessels or if we are working a case, as some one reported to him a vessel capsized off Silver Sands Jetty. After a quick call to our other SARDO(Rod Lowe-442-8448) I returned the call letting him know nothing was reported to BASRA. After a few minutes I returned the call to Gary S. Informing him BASRA Rescue 1 was going to launch to search for any persons in the water. When trying to confirm the location I was given a number for the reporting source who reported the boat to Mr. Simmons(unfortunately I was unable to store the number due to the location I was at). The party on the phone informed me the Vessel was approx. 50-100 ft. off of Petersons Cay, located just to the East of the Grand Lucayan Water Way Southern Entrance. I then immediately notified the on duty Rescue team Captained by Aron Long, Crew Tom Christianson and Greg Christian also on board a Police Officer from the Lucaya Station. A police officer was called on my authority due to the possibility of a body recovery. Upon arriving on scene the vessel was almost completely sunk with only about 1ft of the bow sticking up, the stern appeared to be resting on the sea floor, as the vessel was in approx 30ft of water. After a quick dive on the boat it appeared all Electronics were removed and it appeared as the boat was possibly stolen. After concluding no life was in jeopardy and pictures where taken to document the boat, the rescue boat returned to home base (Unexso). Upon arriving to the dock it was decided by the captain, police officer and my self, the boat could not be left where it was as it would be a hazard to navigation, I informed the captain BASRA is not involved with Salvage and he would have to use his own personal boat to do so. Later on that evening I was informed by police the boat was at the ramp and they were documenting it and locating the owner at which time BASRA closed the case. Aron Long and James Hughes salvaged the Vessel on their own accord and not on behalf of BASRA. How ever BASRA would not mind receiving the boat for a rescue boat (for the record). Bahamas Air Sea Rescue Association is a non- Profit Volunteer Organization providing Search and Rescue to the boating and Air passengers of the Northern Bahamas

Date July 3rd 2007
Ref: Woman Over Board


Received original call from Gary Simmons (Ocean Rescue & Recovery) of a possible MOB (Man Over Board). He was picking up transmission on VHF16 of a vessel “Do Dilligence”. Basra Grand Bahama began a search for a 42 year-old woman from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., reported to have fallen off the 49-foot sport fisher, Do Diligence, around 4:30 p.m., 35 miles south of Freeport, Bahamas. The Do Diligence reported that the woman was last seen around 4:30 p.m., leaving the bridge. The vessel was anchored around 5 p.m. in the vicinity of Great Isaacs. The crew realized the woman was missing around 5:30 p.m.. Basra Grand Bahama Immediately notified The United States Coast Guard of the Situation and was informed they were monitoring the call and arranging a cutter to the area. Basra Rescue 1(35ft Protector) was Launched Captained by James Hughes, crew Tom Christian, d’Von Archer and Ed Albury, to the location given by the relaying Vessel “Grand George”. At approximately 1830 rescue one was the first rescue vessel on scene and received new coordinates from the CG Cutter Resolute(in Rout) of a search pattern. Rescue 1 continued searching into the night along with 2 private vessels, 2 coast Guard Cutters, a helicopter and a fixed wing aircraft. Rescue 1 returned at approx. 12:30a.m. for refueling and further instructions. On Wednesday morning at approx. 0645 District 7 Command Centre launched a C-130 Aircraft to the location to continue in the search along with the 2 Cutters. Basra Air 2 (Captained by Mark Albury and spotter Tom Christian) was launched at 1100 to search a pre determined position given by the US Coast Guard of 13 miles off shore to 22 miles off shore. Basra Air 1 (Capt. John Roberts and Spotter Sue Roberts) was launched at 1330 to conduct a Southern shore line search up to 13 miles off shore to the south. At approx 1400 Basra Air 1 returned with a negative Search results and aprrox. 1630 Basra Air 2 returned also with a negative Search result. The US Coast Guard District 7 was informed of our search results, and Basra went into a holding pattern awaiting further instructions from the USCG. At 2030 the USCG informed Basra of a possible spotting of a PIW (Person In Water) from the C-130 and after a thorough search of the area it was a negative sighting. The Coast Guard was going to launch another C-130 at first light Thursday morning to conduct the final Search of the area and then Officially Suspend their search at which time BASRA Grand Bahama Did the same. At 1230 Thursday afternoon BASRA and the USCG suspended their search.Special thanks to the Lucaya Police Station for their assistance in acquiring surveillance footage of the Vessel and Victim at Port Lucaya Marina, along with the Security at Port Lucaya Marketplace. The Case is now in the BSO Hands Where the Victim has been listed as LAS (Lost At Sea)