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July 30, 1997
(Tourism, Culture and Recreation)

High seas dramas follow Matthew

Two sea rescues were carried out near the Matthew on Sunday as the 15th century style caravel made her way along Newfoundland's Northern Peninsula to Red Bay, Labrador.

On Sunday afternoon, a small open craft with four occupants was sighted about five miles offshore near New Ferolle with a crew waving excitedly to the Matthew.

"This is hardly an unusual occurrence, as people have been going out of their way to see and wave to the Matthew, and the crew of the Matthew waved back," said Matthew tour co-ordinator Rose Daley. "However, it became apparent that the crew of the small boat were in great distress, and were seeking assistance."

The vessel CC, which had been chartered by CBC Documentaries to film the Matthew's progress, was contacted by the Matthew, and the cruiser responded to the situation, taking the craft in tow until a local fishing vessel came by and brought the small boat back to port.

Later that day at 10:50 p.m. the rescuer became the vessel in distress when the CC sent out a Mayday that she was taking on water and preparing to abandon. Vessels in the area responded, including the Coast Guard vessel Groswater Bay which was towing the Matthew at the time.

Matthew Captain David Alan-Williams and his crew immediately cast off the lines to enable the coast guard vessel to respond to the CC, which was 11 miles astern of the Matthew at the time.

With several vessels in the area responding to the CC's distress call, the first on scene was the Cape Anchor which took the crew of the CC on board, and then towed the vessel, which continued to take on water, back to Anchor Point where the vessel was apparently beached.

All crew and CBC Documentaries personnel were safe, and the Mayday concluded at 11:48 p.m.

The Groswater Bay then returned to her escort duties with the Matthew, and the caravel sailed on to Red Bay.

The Matthew will be in St. Anthony from July 29 to July 31, when she will depart the community at 12 noon for La Scie.

Contact: Doug Burgess, Manager of Communications, Cabot 500 Anniversary Celebrations, (709) 729-1997.