On Friday, September 13, 2024, my experienced buddy and I were dropped off by my wife at Victoria Point. We were looking forward to the perfect work-week wrap-up and set off at 3:00 PM towards Wellington Point. The wind speed was around 25 knots southeast, with a swell height of about 1.8 meters. I was wearing a leg leash and a PFD, but crucially, I had my ResQLink 400 PLB tied with a custom-made adjustable closed loop around one leg.

At around 3:45 PM, with about 4 km left to go and roughly 2 km offshore, my left carbon paddle blade snapped clean off at the socket neck. It may have been due to fatigue, as the paddle was about four years old. After a few moments of deliberation, I realized the conditions were likely too challenging for a self-rescue attempt, especially with nightfall approaching at 6:00 PM.

In Australia, standard procedure requires PLBs to be registered with the Australian Maritime Safety Authority, who perform an annual registration check. With my PLB registration up to date, I felt confident in activating it at around 3:50 PM.

As I later learned, the distress signal was relayed to the National Rescue Coordination Centre in Canberra, which contacted my wife. She confirmed our location and identifying details. Canberra then notified the Port of Brisbane Water Police, who coordinated the rescue plan and informed the Raby Bay Volunteer Marine Rescue Service.

The plan was that if I wasn’t located by 5:00 PM, two helicopters on standby would be dispatched to complete the search before dark.

Two rescue craft reached me simultaneously at around 4:30 PM, and I was returned to the Raby Bay Marine Rescue Station—along with my surfski—by approximately 4:40 PM for a check-up by the Ambulance Service. The officers who assisted me said this was a textbook rescue, the kind they enjoy.

The only uncertainty I felt during the ordeal was whether it would take marine rescue 30 or 40 minutes to reach me.

In the end, my trust in the reliability of the device and the national rescue response plan was well-placed! To be honest, I’ve occasionally left the PLB at home, feeling confident in my leash and PFD combo. After this experience, however, the PLB will always be the first item I strap on. Onwards and upwards, ACR PLBs!