With help from Cobourg crews with the Canadian Coast Guard, the volunteer-powered Brighton Marine Rescue (BMR) capped off its season “saving lives on the water” with a monumental rescue.
Now, after answering this latest distressed vessel’s call – which has garnered quite a bit of attention – the volunteer-powered not-for-profit organization and registered federal charity is hoping residents may answer a call for volunteer help.
But first, deputy unit leader Geoff Suddard takes us back to the big night on Oct. 28 at about 8:30 p.m. when the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC) reached out to BMR with a rescue call for a distressed vessel in the shipping channels deep in the lake.
“It was pretty wavy that night – there were four-to-eight-foot waves – and all three crew members on the boat were seasick,” said Suddard, adding the crew was also unable to radio the coast guard for help but a “larger laker” going by ended up getting that call in for help, and BMR was tasked with responding.
The journey translated to 34 nautical miles from home base in Brighton in incredibly “rough weather.”
At one point, Suddard noted they were about four kilometres from the U.S. border.
The laker – which was just “too big to be able to do anything” – stood by to keep an eye on the distressed and out-of-fuel vessel with three crewmembers until BMR arrived.
Suddard recalled crews initially surveying the situation and trying several ways to help. Their crew was seasick and so couldn’t help attaching a tow line – and quickly it became “just too risky” to transfer BMR volunteers to the distressed vessel, too, he said.
And these weren’t the only challenges.
“Normally, we would come right up beside them and try to tie a line in, but it was a bit risky with that.”
Brighton then had to radio in for help from the coast guard out of Cobourg.
“They have different boats (and) they have better tools and better training,” said Suddard. “We’re all volunteers – they’re paid (and) they’re full coast guard.”
Cobourg crews’ journey also took several hours and BMR stood by.
It was during this time that BMR started to drift in the shipping channels and at one point, another laker was headed directly into their path, but the coast guard ended up getting it to alter its course just in time, recalled Suddard.
“There wasn’t a lot of shipping traffic at the time, but it was enough to, you know, you don’t want to get hit by a big boat.”
When Cobourg crews arrived with their Cape Rescue vessel, they were able to attach a tow but “also found it somewhat difficult.”
However, Brighton was able to learn about some new tools the organization hopes to acquire.
“Every time we learn something from them, we try to get better at what we do … They are an absolutely fantastic team (and) they’re a huge help to us when we encounter something beyond our capability, and they’re always there.”
As Cobourg got the tow going, Brighton headed back home for a crew change – then turned around and headed back out to meet Cobourg and take over the tow near Scotch Bonnet Island. Cape Rescue is too big to bring them into Presqu’ile Bay, so BMR brought the distressed vessel in, explained Suddard.
In the end, it turned into long hours for both Brighton and Cobourg crews.
The distressed vessel’s destination was originally Montreal.
This marked the last call of the season for BMR and only thanks to a successful fundraiser for a trailer was Brighton able to answer the call. Normally, usually right after Thanksgiving, BMR would be out of the water, but instead was able to serve into the start of this month.
Simply put, that addition means crews have more flexibility and can get in the water earlier and out of the water later.
Meanwhile, it’s the calls during these times that tend to be more the serious ones – people make mistakes and there’s just fewer boats out there to help, explained Suddard. The people who donated and helped BMR purchase the trailer directly impacted this distressed vessel and the people onboard, he added.
As the marine rescue unit continues to run on donations and volunteers, those like Suddard are hoping this latest call creates some awareness and translates to help, particularly with volunteer recruitment.
New this year, the organization is pushing recruitment this winter with hopes of finding some quality folks to stay on for a few years.
The marine rescue unit can have up to 50 volunteers, but for the 2025 season struggled with a pool of 16 or so and eight-to-12 heavily active volunteers, said Suddard, adding they don’t want to burn out their volunteer base.
BMR has space for people to chip in on and off the water and can get an array of training done in the winter and lengthy application processes started.
For those interested in joining the cause, BMR’s website has more information.
BMR operates out of the Bay Street municipal arena in Presqu’ile Bay. Its search-and-rescue services span more than 1,500 square kilometres and are provided free of charge during the boating season annually starting in mid-April.
(Written by: Sarah Hyatt)
