by Nella Nelson
How unpredictable the ocean can be! Powerful waves, currents or changes in weather can occur at any given moment and unfortunate situations may take place. Fortunately, Ventura’s Harbor Patrol has a plan of action in place besides their efficient rescue boats and lifeguards.
Ventura’s Harbor Patrol provides both land and waterside services within the boundaries of Ventura Harbor. As the only agency with rescue vessels within the City of Ventura, the Harbor Patrol will respond to all calls within a three-mile radius of the Harbor and to potential or actual emergency situations up to 10 miles offshore. To fulfill its rescue mission, the Harbor Patrol is equipped with two rescue boats, one rescue/fire boat, and a 4-wheel drive vehicle with full-time officers well trained in boating safety and enforcement.
“The specialist level performance of these RWCs are able to handle 15-20 foot waves,” explained Harbormaster John Higgins. “They are designed to throttle right through a wave, even when the wave is breaking head on. They can do things boats cannot do, like come up onto the beach. They can be operated in teams of two with one of our 47’ rescue boats as a type of mother ship.”
Valuable time and resources are saved as it can cost up to one million dollars to replace a boat while the cost is much less for an RWC. Aiding swimmers and surfers also becomes more effective on an RWC as it is easier to pull individuals onto them or an assisting pad than from a boat. The crafts are especially helpful when surfers get pulled out toward the pier during lulls and are unable to get back. In January of last year, 20’ winter waves kept the harbors closed from travel, yet some surfers underestimated their abilities and rescues were necessary.
One thousand hours of certified lifeguard training is required of the rescuers along with continuing education courses of 4-day intensive in-house instruction. They work cohesively with the fire department and state parks, as well, to switch between them as needed.
Next time you see those flashes of red, battling the waves to rescue someone in distress, you can appreciate all that goes into the assisting work of the Harbor Patrol.
