October 2005:

• High Maintenance, in dense fog off east Anacapa Island, suffered hydraulic failure and summoned Vessel Assist. Captain Paul on Assist Ventura, responded to the call. Captain Paul was already in tow with El Jefe so it was a tandem tow back to Channel Islands Harbor.

---

• El Jefe, a 28 foot Skipjack lost its outdrive near Santa Cruz Island with 2 POB. Captain Paul was the captain and Assist Ventura was the tow boat.

---

• Engine failure off San Pedro Point ruined the day for the mariners aboard Desire, a 26 foot Bayliner. Captain Kris on Assist Channel Islands was the hero who spent almost 8 hours on this case, towing the boat back to Santa Barbara Harbor.

---

• Dead batteries in dense fog was the problem for a Radon 28 named Double Duty. The boat was anchored at Sandstone Point, Santa Cruz Island and Captain Paul was dispatched to give them a jump start. The jump was successful and the mariners made their own way back to Ventura Harbor.

• A Catalina 30 named Twilight lost its engine and called Vessel Assist. Captain Tom on Retriever was able to tow the boat safely back to Ventura harbor.

---

• Captain Tom, on Retriever, responded to the scene of a Catalina 30 with engine failure. The boat was towed to Ventura Harbor.

---

• Aquaholic, a 25 foot Bayliner Trophy suffering from engine valve failure, was towed from position N 34 08.87, W 119 23.21 back to the Ventura Harbor launch ramp by Captain Tom on Retriever.

---

• A spun prop was the problem for a Sunbird 205 just off Silver Strand Beach in Channel Islands Harbor. Captain Tom, on Retriever, was the hero of the day, rescuing the boat from its predicament and towing it to the Channel Islands Harbor launch ramp.

• Jerratruga, a Meridian 45 up from Marina del Rey, experienced engine failure and landed on a private dock in the Ventura Keys. Since the vessel owners were Sea Tow members, they were unable to get assistance in this area. A dispatcher from Sea Tow called and asked us to tow their member to a boat yard, and then to seek reimbursement from Sea Tow Business Offices, so Vessel Assist towed a boat for Sea Tow! It was Captain Bev on Assist Ventura, with Captain Paul as deckhand - and of course Butter the dog.

---

• Margarita, a 34 foot sailboat with fuel problems, was towed into Ventura Harbor by the Ventura Harbor Patrol. Captain Kris on Retriever took over the tow and put the boat in its slip.

---

• An Avenger 40 was the boat needing the dock to dock, Kris was the captain, Assist Ventura was the tow boat, and the reason for the tow was a move to a new slip.

• A dock to dock for a Bayliner 30 was the job, Kris was the captain, and Assist Ventura was the tow boat.

• A survey at Ventura Harbor Boatyard was the reason for the dock to dock for Dances with Dolphins, a Columbia 34. Bev was the captain, Paul was the deckhand and Butterdog was along for the ride, of course.

• Yellow Banana, a 17 foot Sea Ray, suffered outdrive failure in Channel Islands Harbor. Captain Kris, on Assist Ventura provided the mariner with a tow to the Channel Islands Harbor launch ramp.

---

• It was 1:15AM, and 10 miles west of Santa Barbara Harbor, that a Columbia 35, named Impulse, lost its engine. Captain Kris was awakened and dispatched on Assist Ventura, out of Ventura Harbor, for this lengthy case. 7 1/2 hours later the boat was safely in Santa Barbara and Captain Kris was able to get some sleep.

---

• An outdrive failure ruined the day for Yellow Banana, a 17 foot Sea Ray. Captain Kris on Assist Ventura towed the boat back to the Channel Islands launch ramp.

• 17 1/2 miles out of Channel Islands, a Baja 24 suffered engine failure and was happy to have a current membership with Vessel Assist. Captain Kris on Assist Channel Islands towed the boat back into Channel Islands Harbor.

• FNC, a 21 foot powerboat ran out of fuel in position N 34 12, W 119 19. Captain Glen, on Assist Ventura, delivered 5 gallons of fuel to the boat

• Captain Bev and Butterdog did a dock to dock on Assist Ventura, moving a 30 foot Chriscraft named Keg, from its old slip to a new one at Ventura Yacht Club Marina.

---

• Captain Kris on Assist Channel Islands towed Blade Runner, a 25 foot Bayliner, from Anacapa Isle Marina to Anacapa Marine Services for repair.

---

• The 44 foot Tsunami, Resolute, was towed from Ventura Yacht Sales docks to Channel Islands Boatyard for haulout/storage by Captain Kris on Assist Ventura.

• A broken belt ruined the day for The Bear, a 32 foot Cheoy Lee Trawler in position N 34 24.091, W 119 51.337. A parts delivery was all that was required to get the boat back in service. Captain Kris was the hero of the day, and the boat was Retriever.

---

• A Morgan 41 named Cherokee was towed from Ventura Yacht Sales docks to Channel Islands Boat Yard for haulout and storage by Captain Kris and deckhand Manny on Assist Ventura.

---

• Nikki J, a 42 foot lightboat, was towed from its slip at Ventura Village to Ventura Harbor Boatyard for engine repair by Captain Kris on Assist Ventura.

• A 25 foot Crestliner in position N 34 02 4, W 119 18 9, was disabled with no ability to communicate. A vessel nearby, M/V Dutchman, relayed the vessel's request for assistance and Captain Kris responded on Assist Channel Islands, towing the boat back to Channel Islands Harbor.

• Play Shell, a 19 foot Chaparal, with 4 POB, was disabled at San Pedro Point, Santa Cruz Island. Captain Paul on Assist Channel Islands responded to the call. While waiting for our boat to arrive, the mariners had been able to deploy an anchor. It successfully prevented them from drifting on to the beach but when Captain Paul arrived it was discovered that it had become fouled so it took some time to retrieve it. The tow ended successfully 5 hours later at the Channel Islands launch ramp.

• A phone call came in from a person aboard a 28 foot Bayliner, named Hat Trick, reporting the boat disabled near the Ventura Pier with 3 POB. The caller also reported that he believed they had less than 5 minutes before the boat was on the beach. Retriever was dispatched with Captain Paul at the helm. Ventura Harbor Patrol also responded since the vessel was unable to deploy an anchor. By the time the response vessels arrived on scene the mariners had been able to set an anchor and were no longer in danger of drifting onto the beach. The vessel was towed to Anchor's Way Boat Yard for repairs.

• An Islander 32 named Sun Shadow was moved from its slip in Ventura West Marina to Ventura Harbor Boatyard by Captain Kris on Assist Ventura.

---

• Steering failure was the problem for an Angleman 36 sailboat approximately eight miles out of Ventura. It was Captain Kris and Assist Ventura who safely towed the vessel back to Ventura Yacht Club.

• Raven Song, a Mariner 31 ketch, went down in her slip in Channel Islands Harbor Marina. The vessel was completely submerged with only her bowsprit out of the water resting on the dock when the Vessel Assist salvage team arrived. Captains Paul Amaral and Kris Brause responded to the scene with salvage gear on Assist Ventura. Surface crew Manny Limas provided support topside while Captain Paul dived to attach lift bags. The vessel was successfully raised and dewatered but, at a later date, it was determined that the damage was too extensive for repair, and it was towed to a haulout facility and placed on a truck for disposal. (PHOTO 1) (PHOTO 2) (PHOTO 3) (PHOTO 4) (PHOTO 5)

---

• Marlin, a 60 foot crewboat, was brought from its slip at Ventura Village to Anchor's Way Boatyard by Captain Kris on Assist Ventura.

• Angleman 36, Phillip Nolan, was towed from Channel Islands Harbor to Anchor's Way Boatyard for haulout and refit. The tow boat was Assist Channel Islands and the captain was Kris.

---

• Fair Wind, a 43 foot sailboat, with 2 POB was approximately 6 miles out of Ventura when it suffered engine failure. Captains Paul and Jon responded on Assist Channel Islands, which was at base for maintenance, and towed the vessel back to Anchor's Way Boat Yard for repairs.

---

• Hokianga, an Angleman 36, was moved by Captain Bev and Butterdog to Ventura Harbor Boatyard for a survey. The tow boat was Retriever.

---

• Sweet Caroline, a Prowler 32 in Ventura Isle Marina was towed by Captain Bev on Retriever to Anchor's Way Boatyard for engine work by Les Nickeas.

• An Ericson 35 sailboat with engine failure was anchored at Smuggler's Cove when the skipper sustained an injury. Coast Guard station Channel Islands removed the skipper and transported him back to Channel Islands for treatment, leaving the vessel on the Coast Guard buoy at the island. The vessel was later towed back to Channel Islands Harbor by Captain Kris on Assist Channel Islands.

---

• Captain Kris and Assist Channel Islands assisted M/V Lady M from her slip in Bajia Cabrillo to its new slip in the same marina.

• While fishing north of Anacapa Island, a Skipjack 20 lost its engine and the skipper called Vessel Assist on his cell phone. The vessel had no VHF radio or GPS on board and the mariner was unable to give an exact position. Our vessel, Assist Channel Islands, with Captain Kris at the helm, was unable to use RDF equipment to locate the mariner since he had no radio. Cell phone communications were subsequently lost and it was getting dark so the Coast Guard was called in to assist in locating the mariner. Captain Kris always finds his man so the Skipjack was safely located and towed back to Channel Islands Harbor launch ramp that evening.

---

• Earendell, a Fuji 35, was anchored at Smuggler's on Santa Cruz Island when it lost battery power. Captain Paul on Retriever responded to the call, giving the boat a jump start. The skipper and crew later made it back to Ventura Harbor under their own power.

---

• Engine failure at the east end of Anacapa Island was the problem for II Times, a Sea Crest 20, which was towed back to the Channel Islands Harbor launch ramp.

---

• Engine failure claimed another victim, a 26 foot Aluminum Chambered Boat, named Amazing Grace was fishing at Chinese Harbor on Santa Cruz Island when he became disabled. The vessel was towed back to Ventura Harbor by Captain Paul on Retriever.

• Captain Kris at the helm of Assist Ventura, took Marlin, a 60 foot crewboat, from Anchor's Way Boatyard to Ventura Harbor Boatyard for engine repair.

• The Columbia 34, Dances with Dolphins, needed to go to the boatyard for a survey for its new owner. It was Captain Kris on Retriever who did this one.

• a Scarab 38 out of fuel approximately 10 miles out of Channel Islands Harbor called for a fuel drop. Captain Tom responded on Retriever and delivered fuel to the vessel which then safely returned to the harbor under its own power.

---

• A call came in to Vessel Assist from an Arima 19, disabled approximately 3 miles SW of Santa Barbara Harbor with dead batteries. Captain Tom got underway but the mariner was able to handle the situation on his own and did not require our assistance so Tom and Retriever stood down and returned to base.

• An Arima 15 suffered engine failure off of Goleta Point, near Santa Barbara. Captain Kris, aboard Assist Channel Islands, responded and towed the boat back to the Santa Barbara launch ramp.

---

• Lasting Spirit, a 27 foot Sea Ray, lost its engine NE of Anacapa Island, approximately 10 miles out of Channel Islands and called for Vessel Assist. Captain Kris and Assist Channel Islands towed the boat safely back to the Channel Islands launch ramp.