As we initiated the turn, Captain Brad announced that we were returning to "rescue" a fishing boat. It turns out that the fishing boat's fuel pump had broken, and that it was drifting towards shore in water too deep to anchor. So our mission of mercy was to tow it.
Slowy heading towards the boat's location, this is the captain's eye view of the boat, about mid image, and just a speck even on the larger view.
Something of an event as some of us stayed on the top deck watching the operation.
Captain Nina and Phrater slowly approaching the disabled boat. There are manoeuvering controls on each side of the bridge, and the captain is steering the boat from this location.
A crew member from the fishing boat rowed over with a tow rope, and in this shot is rowing back to the fishing boat.
The tow is under way. We didn't tow it very far, and did so quite slowly.
And then we heard a plane approaching from the south, at first assuming it was some sort of regular flight that came to take a peek.
Then the plane circled and came in for a landing.
Touch down.
Slowing down.
Taxiing. I still didn't appreciate the intent or purpose of this flight.
The plane taxied right up to the boat. It was only later that we discovered the plane was bringing the parts needed to get the fishing boat underway again. It also looked like the pilot received a nice sized, fresh halibut as a "thank you" gift. Much later I discovered we were offered one too, but we still had a long way to go this day with sufficient food for the rest of the journey, so it was better to resume our journey.
A final wave and we are off.
North of Campbell River, BC
