Eden receives major communications boost

by Lisa Ratcliff, CYCA Communications on 11 Dec 2007 With just 16 days to the start of the 628 nautical mile Rolex Sydney Hobart 2007, the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia's Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Trusts have made a significant donation to one of the most important coastal ports between Sydney and Hobart.

Most retirements from the annual ocean classic make their way to Eden on the NSW South Coast to access local facilities for medical and other reasons. The CYCA's SOLAS Trusts have donated $25,000 worth of radio and computer equipment to the Royal Volunteer Coastal Patrol (RVCP) Eden Division, allowing this division to upgrade its Search and Rescue Coordination Centre (SARCC) compliancy.

The SOLAS Trusts, recently boosted by almost $6,000 thanks to an eBay auction for guest spots on maxis competing in tomorrow's SOLAS Big Boat Challenge, have provided four ICOM IC-M801E Marine HF DSC enabled radios, four ICOM AT141 Auto Antenna Tuners, four GME power supplies for the HF radios, five ICOM IC-M304 Marine Mobile VHF DSC enabled radios and one computer and monitor with suitable software and operating system.

'This significant donation of equipment has been made with a view that the relationship between the CYCA, RVCP Eden, the community of Eden and the various government agencies involved with search and rescue activities along the south coast of NSW will continue well into the future,' said CYCA Commodore and SOLAS Trusts chairman Matt Allen.

Commodore Allen made the presentation to RVCP officer commanding Peter Phillipson and deputy officer commanding Kevin Hill.

'Support from the premier ocean racing yacht club and its SOLAS Trusts really confirms the importance of the work we do, especially in radio communications,' said Phillipson.

'This donation will allow us to upgrade our radio and IT resources to the latest technology and provide the highest standard expected of a SARCC in New South Wales,' he added.

One of the SOLAS Trusts' objectives is to support search and rescue organisations Australia wide. To date, close to $350,000 has been donated to search and rescue organisations in every state of Australia and the ACT.

The CYCA will soon announce the launch of a new course which has been developed, with the support of SOLAS Trusts, by St Vincent's Hospital in Sydney to offer more specialised first aid at sea training. The prototype CYCA Medical Management for Mariners course has commenced with some of those taking part gaining certification prior to the Boxing Day start of the Rolex Sydney Hobart on 26 December.