September 2007:

• Captain Tom went to the assistance of a Hershine 25, Hooked Up, disabled in the vicinity of Platform Gina. Since the boat did not have a GPS onboard Captain Tom had to look hard to find it. The mariner was eventually located and towed back to Ventura Harbor. Retriever was the tow boat. (PHOTO)

---

• Captain Paul, onboard Assist Channel Islands, moved a 38 foot Chriscraft from Peninsula Yacht Marina to Anacapa Marine Services.

---

• Captains Bev and Jason moved a 48 foot sailboat from a slip to another in Ventura West Marina. Maverick was the tow boat.

---

• A 24 foot Searay disabled near Santa Barbara called for help and Captain Tom, onboard Retriever responded, but the mariners were able to get themselves handled and it ended up being a stand down.

---

• Captain Tom responded to the call for assistance from the 18 foot Duffy disabled in Channel Islands Harbor. The boat had suffered power failure and the mariners managed to secure themselves to a dock in Vintage Marina until Captain Tom could arrive on scene and tow them back to their home slip in Mandalay Bay. Assist Channel Islands was the tow boat.

---

• Cabo 26, Bubble, ran out fuel in position N 34:01.815, W 118:54.681, calling Vessel Assist for a tow back to Ventura Harbor. It was Captain Tom, onboard Retriever, who responded.

• Bayliner 32, Tommy, lost engine power while entering Ventura Harbor and the mariners aboard were able to secure themselves to the Harbor Patrol dock. Captains Bev and Brian, onboard Retriever, gave the boat a tow back to Ventura West Marina, D dock.

---

• Captain Randy and Captain Brian, onboard Assist Channel Islands, were the rescue team who responded to the disabled Luhrs in the vicinity of Platform Gina. The boat was towed back to a private residence in Mandalay Bay, Channel Islands Harbor.

---

• Aquarius, a Chapparal 27 with engine failure in Ventura Harbor was assisted by Captain Paul, onboard Retriever, back to a slip in Ventura Isle Marina.

---

• Captain Randy rescued a disabled personal watercraft from near the Goleta Pier and towed it back to Santa Barbara. Retriever was the tow boat.

• Captain Jon responded to sailboat, Lochan Ora, needing a jumpstart at Scorpion Anchorage. The jump was successful and Captain Jon and Assist Channel Islands responded to another case near the entrance to Channel Islands Harbor.

---

• Bella Vita, a 45 foot Silverton needed a tow back to a slip in Ventura Isle Marina after its batteries went dead while at the pumpout station. Captains Jason and Paul responded on Retriever.

---

• Captain Jason responded to the disabled Seaswirl at the Ventura launch ramp. The Seaswirl just needed a jumpstart and was able to continue on its way. Retriever was the tow boat.

---

• A Bayliner suffering mechanical failure dropped an anchor about 200 yards offshore just south of Channel Islands Harbor. Captain Jon responded on Assist Channel Islands towing the boat back to the launch ramp.

---

• Odyssey, a Catalina 42, lost a starter while at Santa Cruz Island. The mariners sailed across the channel and only needed some help getting back in to a slip in Santa Barbara so Captain Randy was dispatched out of Ventura and organized a rendezvous with the boat in Santa Barbara. The boat was successfully put away and Randy and Retriever returned to Ventura base.

---

• Cibad Explorer, a 26 foot Wilson with engine failure at Yellowbanks, Santa Cruz Island, called Vessel Assist for a tow back to Channel Islands Harbor. Captain Jon, on Assist Channel Islands, responded out of Channel Islands Harbor but the mariners were able to get their engine started so it was a stand down for Captain Jon.

---

• A 26 foot Chriscraft lost its starter in position N 34:02.772, W 119:18.514 and called Vessel Assist for a tow back to a private dock in Mandalay Bay. Maverick and Captain Paul were the response team.

---

• Willow, a Spindrift 47 sailboat, suffered transmission failure just outside Ventura Harbor, calling Vessel Assist for some help. Captains Jason and Paul, on Maverick, responded towing the boat back to a slip in Ventura Isle Marina.

• Captains Jason and Paul towed 48 foot Celestial, Indigo, to Ventura Harbor Boatyard. The boat had wrapped the painter for its skiff in its propeller. Retriever was the tow boat.

• JB Bear, a Hunter 45 foot sailboat, suffered an overheated engine in position N 34:00.032, W 119:32.430. The mariners called Vessel Assist for some help getting back to Ventura Isle Marina in Ventura Harbor. Captain Randy on Retriever responded.

---

• A Roughwater 41 was moved from a slip in Channel Islands Harbor Marina to a slip in Vintage Marina. Captains Jason and Paul onboard Assist Channel Islands were the moving team.

• Captain Randy gave a jumpstart to Virgina Rose, a 24 foot Osprey with dead batteries at Chinese Harbor, Santa Cruz Island. Retriever was the tow boat.

• Captain Randy went to the assistance of a 21 foot Searay, Genesis, with engine failure in Channel Islands Harbor. The boat was towed to the Channel Islands Yacht Club. Assist Channel Islands was the tow boat.

---

• Amore, a Bertram 23, suffered engine failure in position N 34:07.08, W 119:20.47 and requested assistance. Captains Randy and Brian responded, onboard Retriever, towing the boat back to Ventura Harbor.

---

• Catalina 30, Time Out, suffered engine failure in position N 34:14.54, W 119:17.68 and called Vessel Assist for a tow back to Ventura Harbor. It was Captain Randy who crawled out of bed to assist the mariners. Retriever was the tow boat.

---

• Captains Randy and Brian moved Unexpected, a Searay 31, from a slip in Channel Islands Harbor Marina to the haulout ways at Anacapa Marine Services. Assist Channel Islands was the tow boat.

---

• Cheoy Lee 44, Elisum, suffered engine failure in position N 34:04.5, W 119:10.1. The mariner called Vessel Assist for a tow and Captain Randy responded, towing the boat back to Channel Islands Harbor. Assist Channel Islands was the tow boat.

• Captain Bev and deckhand Aubrey moved 47 foot CT, Pangea, from a slip on D dock in Ventura West Marina to a slip on A dock. Retriever was the tow boat.

---

• Captain Randy came to the assistance of Catalina 36, Erika V. The boat suffered engine failure in Ventura Harbor and just needed some help getting back in to a slip. Retriever was the tow boat.

• Ericson 35 sailboat, Wrong Way, lost steering in the vicinity of Platform Gina and called for some help. Captain Jon was the hero who responded, and on Assist Channel Islands towed the boat back to Channel Islands Harbor. The putaway was challenging for Captain Jon though, since the helm was stuck all the way over to one side he had his work cut out for him.

---

• Captain Jon went to the aid of a 32 foot Monterey with dead batteries located at Smuggler's Anchorage, Santa Cruz Island. A jump start was successful so Captain Jon was able to return to base. Retriever was the tow boat.

• Captain Randy moved a 28 foot Bristol Channel Cutter from a slip in Ventura to Anchors Way Boatyard. Retriever was the tow boat.

• Captain Jason went to the resue of Wing Star, a 51 foot Frasier sailboat, suffering engine failure several miles out of Ventura. The boat was towed Ventura Harbor Boatyard for repairs. Retriever was the tow boat.

• Captain Randy moved a 31 foot SeaRay from a private slip in the Ventura Keys to Anchors Way Boatyard. Retriever was the tow boat.

---

• Pelican, an Islander 36, needed some help from Captain Randy. The boat lost a fuel pump in position N 34:04.3, W 119:06.14 and needed a tow boat to Channel Islands Harbor. Captain Randy, onboard Assist Channel Islands, responded.

---

• Captain Randy and Retriever responded to the Catalina 30 with engine failure in position N 33:58.81, W 119:28.7, towing the boat back to Ventura Harbor.

• A 21 foot Seaswirl with engine failure called Vessel Assist for a tow and Captain Randy, onboard Assist Channel Islands, responded towing the boat back to the launch ramp in Channel Islands.

---

• Captains Jason, Randy, and Paul, were the whale towing team that removed the 80 foot Blue Whale from near Faria Beach. Retriever was the tug boat that provided the muscle to pull the 80 ton carcass out to sea. Captain Randy was the swimmer who deployed the towing hawser via surfboard. (PHOTO) (PHOTO 2) (PHOTO 3) (PHOTO 4) (PHOTO 5)

---

• Captain Randy, onboard Retriever, went to the rescue of Deva, an Elliot 53, disabled near the Mandalay Bay Power Plant. The boat was towed to Dave's Fuel Dock in Ventura Harbor.

---

• Pogo, an Islander 36 disabled near Dave's Fuel Dock, called Vessel Assist and Captain Randy onboard Retriever responded, towing the boat back to the Ventura Keys.

---

• Winery, a Cal 48, lost engine power outside Ventura Harbor. Captain Randy, onboard Retriever, responded towing the boat back to the Ventura Harbor Village.

• Apres Trois, a Columbia 28 sailboat, lost a starter near the Peninsula Yacht Marina and called Vessel Assist for a tow. Captain Randy and Assist Channel Islands responded, towing the boat back to Anacapa Isle Marina.

---

• A Mediterranean 38 out of fuel, called for a fuel drop and Captain Randy and Retriever responded. The fuel drop was unsuccessful so the boat was towed back to a slip in Ventura West Marina.

• The Major Engineering Barge was towed from Channel Islands Harbor to Ventura Harbor. Captain Paul, onboard Retriever, were the moving crew.

---

• Captain Paul and Retriever responded to the call for help from an 18 foot Searay disabled between Anacapa Island and Platform Gina. The mariners were able to get their problem handled though, and it was a stand down.

---

• Captain Paul and Retriever got the long case and towed the Independence 48, Exile, back to Santa Barbara Harbor from north of Point Arguello. The mariners had been headed north but lost their engine and decided to go back to Santa Barbara for repairs. The case ended up being 20 hours long. (PHOTO)

• Viva, a 30 foot Islander with engine failure in position N 34:05.56, W 119:17.71, was towed by Captain Jason and Assist Channel Islands back to Channel Islands Harbor.

---

• A 55 foot Searay with a fuel problem requested a fuel drop at a slip in Ventura Isle Marina. Captain Jason and Maverick took the mariners 20 gallons of fuel.

---

• Talaria, an Ericson 38, lost its transmission 1 1/2 miles outside of Ventura Harbor. The mariner called Vessel Assist for some help and Captain Randy, onboard Retriever, responded, towing the boat to Ventura Harbor Boatyard.

• Captain Randy took the Major Engineering Barge back to Channel Islands Harbor from Ventura. Retriever was the tow boat.

---

• Captain Paul and Assist Channel Islands rescued Uniflite 43, No Bad Days, disabled in Channel Islands Harbor. The boat had lost a transmission and the mariners were able to secure themselves to a dock in Anacapa Isle Marina while awaiting assistance.

• Captain Randy responded to the disabled Department of Fish and Game boat, R/V Garibaldi, disabled at Johnson's Lee, Santa Rosa Island. It was an all night case for Randy, by the time he and Retriever towed the boat back to Ventura Harbor and returned to the docks it was 6 am.

• Captain Randy moved 32 foot Luhrs, Victoria, from a slip in Peninsula Yacht Marina to Anacapa Marine Services. Assist Channel Islands was the tow boat.

---

• Captains Paul, Jason and Randy responded to the scene of the blue whale carcass near Platform Grace in the Santa Barbara Channel. Captains Paul and Randy on Retriever, and Captain Jason along with NOAA photographer John Brooks on Maverick, worked to attach a tow line to the tail of the whale so it could be towed to a beach near Port Hueneme. Strong winds and heavy rain made the situation difficult but the line was finally secured and Captain Paul made the long tow, towing the whale backwards by the tail, to Family Beach near Mugu Lagoon, arriving at 5 am. At daybreak a Great White Shark, apparently excited by the dead whale, attacked Retriever, deflating one inflatable chamber and bumping, rubbing and jostling the boat. Captain Paul was able to limp back to Ventura base with the boat, and along with Captain Jason pulled it out of the water Saturday morning, putting it on a trailer for repairs. The whale towing incident made the front page of the Los Angeles Times, complete with photos of Retriever and Maverick. Close examination of (PHOTO 1) shows that Maverick was also a victim of shark attack - there's a blue shark attached to the starboard bow. This attack went undetected until the photos were uploaded. (PHOTO 1) (PHOTO 2) (PHOTO 3) (PHOTO 4)

• Retriever shows evidence of the shark attack. (PHOTO) (PHOTO 2)

---

• Hakuna Matata, a CSY 44 disabled outside of Channel Islands Harbor, called Vessel Assist for some help. Captain Tom, onboard Assist Channel Islands, responded, towing the boat back to a slip in Vintage Marina.

• Captain Jon responded to the disabled Searay named One Day At a Time at Yellowbanks, Santa Cruz Island, towing the boat back to Ventura Harbor. Assist Channel Islands was the towboat since Retriever was still in the hospital from the White Shark attack.

---

• A 20 foot Skipjack lost engine power near the entrance to Channel Islands Harbor and dropped the hook, calling Vessel Assist for a tow back to the launch ramp. Captain Jon finished up his tow to Ventura and then when returning to Channel Islands base took the Skipjack in tow, delivering it to the launch ramp.

• Aventure Sauvage, Cheoy Lee 41, was towed from a slip in Ventura West Marina to Anchor's Way Boat Yard for an engine pull. Captain Beverly was the captain, Captain Paul was the deckhand, Maverick was the tow boat.

• Cheoy Lee 41, Aventure Sauvage, went back to a slip in Ventura West Marina from Anchor's Way Boat Yard where it underwent an engine pull. Captains Jason and Paul, onboard Maverick, were the moving crew.

• Captain Randy, onboard Assist Channel Islands, went to the assistance of a Catalina 35, Faraway Eyes, with a wrapped prop at Little Scorpion Anchorage, Santa Cruz Island. The boat was soon on its way back to Channel Islands Harbor after Captain Randy dived and cut away the line.

---

• Captain Paul and Maverick responded to the Reinell 26 with a spun prop in the vicinity of Santa Barbara Harbor. The boat was safely towed back to the launch ramp in Santa Barbara.

---

• Restless Heart, a Cal 34 with an overheated engine, called Vessel Assist for a tow from Platte Anchorage, Santa Cruz Island to Channel Islands Harbor Marina. Captain Randy responded on Assist Channel Islands.

• Kyrstin Dawn was moved from a slip in Ventura Harbor Village to Ventura Harbor Boatyard. Captain Jason and Retriever were the towing team.

• Scorpion, a 26 foot Carver with a gear linkage problem, called Vessel Assist for a tow and Captain Randy responded on Assist Channel Islands. The boat was safely delivered back to a slip in Channel Islands Harbor.

---

• Merlin, a Duffy 35, suffered engine failure in position N 34:05.37, W 119:26.37, and called Vessel Assist for some help. Captain Randy, onboard Retriever, responded, towing the boat back to Ventura Harbor.

---

• Destiny, a ferrocement sailboat, needed a tow from Bahia Marina to Peninsula Yacht Marina. Captains Paul and Brian responded, onboard Assist Channel Islands.

---

• Zephyrus, an Islander 36 with engine failure, called for assistance and Captains Paul and Brian responded on Maverick. The boat was safely towed to a slip in Ventura Yacht Club.

• Captain Randy and Assist Channel Islands responded to the boat with a dead battery in position N 34:02.10, W 119:31.33. A jumpstart was successful and the boat was able to make way under its own power.

---

• Lady M, a Catalina 27, called for an engine oil drop and Captain Paul on Retriever responded.

---

• A Boston Whaler 17 with engine failure 2 miles north of Anacapa Island called for help and Captain Randy, onboard Assist Channel Islands, responded. The boat was towed back to Channel Islands launch ramp.

---

• Cetacea II, a Mainship 34 with transmission failure 3 miles north of Anacapa Island, called Vessel Assist for a tow and Captain Randy and Assist Channel Islands responded. The boat was towed back to Pacific Corinthian Marina in Channel Islands Harbor.

---

• Captain Paul, onboard Retriever, responded to Wellcraft 22, Predator, with engine failure in position N 34:20.42, W 119:26.79. The boat was towed to Ventura Harbor launch ramp.