Coast Guard Yeppoon QF11

15/05/2026

Coastguard is pleased to let you know that the channel 21 repeater has been fixed and channel 21 can now be used again for transmissions in the northern end of our area.

13/05/2026

Coast Guard – Central Qld Squadron Media Release 20260510

The weather improved this week and seventy-five vessels logged on to TripWatch across the region. The weekend weather wasn’t favourable and unfortunately conditions don’t look much better for the week to come.

UPCOMING COURSES in May:

● Coast Guard Shipboard Safety Skill Set (SSSS) 16-17 May: This course is for new volunteers wishing to become boat crew and will consist of both theory and practical sessions.

● Coxswain Grade 1 Training 23-24 May: This is a continuation of the course that is currently running for aspiring Coxswains to learn and discuss the theory and practical skills of skippering Coast Guard vessels as they work towards their Coxswain Grade 1 certificate.

● Marine Radio Operator 30 May:

○ Cost: $250 for general public, or $220 for Marine Assist members

○ Info: The course covers VHF marine radios, plus MF and HF training too for those seeking additional training. This course includes an examination.

○ Required: Please bring your driver’s licence as well as your Unique Student Identifier (USI) number: usi.gov.au/create.

JUST HELD: Navigation Course was held this weekend with five Coast Guard participants. A day of theory on Saturday 9 May was followed up with practical application of the skills on Sunday 10 May in some lumpy conditions. We are happy to report that they were all able to safely navigate the area.



Coast Guard Yeppoon QF11: Coast Guard Yeppoon had three activations this week.

● Monday 4 May - A call was received at 09:30 from the owner of a trailer sailboat which had lost steering in Keppel Bay. There were two people on board and they were slowly making their way back to the harbour. They were met by Yeppoon Rescue Two with four volunteers on board and taken under tow back to the harbour. They were released from the tow near the yacht club pontoon where they were able to dock themselves at 10:40.

● Monday 4 May - Once the activation above was concluded, Yeppoon Rescue Two with four volunteers set out to Monkey Beach, Great Keppel Island (Woppa) to assist a Marine Assist member in a 5.2m Bowrider with four people on board which had lost its steering. They were taken under tow back to Rosslyn Bay harbour arriving at 12:40.

● Friday 8 May - A call was received at 13:40 from a Marine Assist member whose 4.6m Stacer had broken down with three people on board at Considine Beach, North Keppel Island. They had tried for three hours to get it working but ultimately needed a tow. Yeppoon Rescue Two was dispatched with four volunteers and the vessel was taken under tow back to the harbour arriving at 15:00.



New Flag Pole - Thanks to everyone who assisted in the removal of the old flag pole and the er****on of the new one. It looks very nautical and professional. The compass rose was also relocated.

13/05/2026

ALL VESSELS USING KEPPEL BAY

Coastguard is currently experiencing difficulties with VHF Channel 21.
Until you are informed otherwise, please use
VHF CHANNEL 22
For all log on/ log off and calls.
Yeppoon – Friday to Monday
Keppel Sands – Tuesday to Thursday
Coastguard apologises for any inconvenience during this period as we do not have a timeframe for the repairs yet.

Send a message to learn more

10/05/2026

SAFETY MESSAGE: Running out of fuel is preventable.

It is about knowing your numbers, sticking to a reserve rule, and not pushing your luck when conditions change. No matter the size of your vessel, the principle is identical: calculate what you need, add a buffer, and refuel before you are in trouble. Keep in mind that the Coast Guard cannot bring out fuel. If you run out of fuel, you will need to be towed back.

● The Rule of Thirds - Use one-third of your total fuel capacity to reach your destination, one-third to return, and keep the final third as reserve. On the water, conditions flip fast—what starts as calm seas at 0700 can turn into 15-knot headwinds and one metre chop by 1100, doubling your burn rate. Do not cheat the reserve by assuming ideal conditions. The reserve is not for ideal days—it is for when the forecast is wrong or your fuel gauge reads optimistic because the sender float is corroded.

● Why Marine Fuel Gauges Can Lie - Boat fuel gauges are notoriously unreliable. They slosh, stick, and drift based on hull angle. Do not rely solely on a dash gauge, keep a manual fuel log. Write down the date, litres added, and engine hours at every fill-up. After a few trips, you will have real-world data on your actual burn rate under different loads and sea states. Cross-check your log against the gauge reading before you leave. If they do not match, trust the log and top up.

# Safetybyallmeans

08/05/2026

Coast Guard – Central Qld Squadron Media Release 20260503

Windy weather continued to prevent boaters from taking to the seas with only thirteen vessels logged on to TripWatch across the region. Hopefully with the winds easing next week there will be a chance to take to the water and wash the dust off



NB: Temporary Fuel Levy. Coast Guard Keppel Sands and Coast Guard Thirsty Sound have finalised details regarding their $50 fuel levy. Please consult the relevant section below for further details. If you have any questions regarding the levy please contact the relevant flotilla.

UPCOMING COURSES in May:

● Coast Guard Shipboard Safety Skill Set (SSSS) 16-17 May: This course is for new volunteers wishing to become boat crew and will consist of both theory and practical sessions.

● Coxswain Grade 1 Training 23-24 May: This is a continuation of the course that is currently running for aspiring Coxswains to learn and discuss the theory and practical skills of skippering Coast Guard vessels as they work towards their Coxswain Grade 1 certificate.

● Marine Radio Operator 30 May:

○ Cost: $250 for public, or $220 for Marine Assist members

○ Info: The course covers VHF marine radios, plus MF and HF training too for those seeking additional training. This course includes an examination.

○ Required: Please bring your driver’s licence as well as your Unique Student Identifier (USI) number: usi.gov.au/create.




Coast Guard Yeppoon QF11: Temporary fuel levy is now in place. QF11 Yeppoon monitors communications (radio and telephone) from Friday to Monday 06:00 - 18:00 each week and provides safety coverage 24/7 for the boating community in the area bounded by Townshend Island in the north, Cape Capricorn in the south and Douglas Shoals in the East (~55 Nautical miles from the coast). Regular training is held to maintain skills in all weather conditions.

05/05/2026

Coast Guard Yeppoon's thoughts are with Marine Rescue NSW Ballina and the Ballina community at this sad time.
May they always have the wind at their back.
Rest in Peace.

Send a message to learn more

05/05/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/14eE1ym4XK7/

Following the devastating news of the passing of two Marine Rescue NSW volunteers overnight, we extend our deepest condolences to their families, friends, fellow volunteers, and the entire Marine Rescue NSW community. Their loss is felt across the broader marine rescue family and by all who serve on the water.

Marine Rescue is built on a strong community of service, teamwork, and looking out for one another. This tragic loss is a sobering reminder of the inherent risks our volunteers face on a daily basis in their unwavering commitment to keeping others safe on the water.

As a mark of respect and solidarity with our NSW colleagues, all Marine Rescue Queensland units will fly flags at half-mast today.

May they always have the wind at their back.

Rest in peace.

30/04/2026

Due to recent fuel price rises and an increase in the number of long distance activations, Coast Guard Yeppoon made the hard decision to apply a TEMPORARY fuel levy on assists.
NB: The information below relates to the operational areas where the levy will apply when the assist is provided by QF11. Please ring QF19 or QF24 for the operational areas where their levies will apply.
MARINE ASSIST MEMBERS: The TEMPORARY fuel levy on assists will only apply to members who need assistance requiring more than two hours travel for a QF11 vessel. If you require a tow inside the Keppel Islands there will not be an extra charge. However, if you need help on the wide grounds, we will seek an additional donation of $50 per hour as an excess to your Marine Assist membership. We thank all members for your continued support. Without your contributions Coastguard could not continue to operate as we do.
NON MARINE ASSIST BOATERS: For all assists to non-members there will be an extra $50 per hour over and above the normal request for service of $300 per hour. If you require a tow inside the Keppel Islands there will not be an extra charge. However, if you need help on the wide grounds, we will seek an additional donation of $50 per hour as an excess to the normal rate.
Coast Guard regrets this extra charge, however the additional fuel costs incurred have forced our hand to stay afloat and be able to help boaties at any time of the day or night. If, or when fuel prices reduce, we will reassess the temporary fuel levy and discontinue it when prices allow.

Send a message to learn more

28/04/2026

Coast Guard – Central Qld Squadron Media Release 20260426

The winds came up again this weekend keeping boater numbers low with only fifteen trips registered for the week across the region.

FLOTILLA INFORMATION:

Important Notice - Temporary Fuel Levy: What does this mean for you?

Due to recent fuel price rises and an increase in the number of long distance activations, Coast Guard Yeppoon made the hard decision to apply a TEMPORARY fuel levy on assists. After consultation with the other two coastal Coast Guard flotillas, both Coast Guard Keppel Sands QF20 and Coast Guard Thirsty Sound QF24 have agreed that this levy will also apply to their assists. The operational area provided in the information below will be adapted to suit the relevant flotilla. Please contact them for information on the operational areas where their levies will apply.



NB: The information below relates to the operational areas where the levy will apply when the assist is provided by QF11. Please ring QF19 or QF24 for the operational areas where their levies will apply.



MARINE ASSIST MEMBERS: The TEMPORARY fuel levy on assists will only apply to members who need assistance requiring more than two hours travel for a QF11 vessel. If you require a tow inside the Keppel Islands there will not be an extra charge. However, if you need help on the wide grounds, we will seek an additional donation of $50 per hour as an excess to your Marine Assist membership. We thank all members for your continued support. Without your contributions Coastguard could not continue to operate as we do.


NON MARINE ASSIST BOATERS: For all assists to non-members there will be an extra $50 per hour over and above the normal request for service of $300 per hour. If you require a tow inside the Keppel Islands there will not be an extra charge. However, if you need help on the wide grounds, we will seek an additional donation of $50 per hour as an excess to the normal rate.


Coast Guard regrets this extra charge, however the additional fuel costs incurred have forced our hand to stay afloat and be able to help boaties at any time of the day or night. If, or when fuel prices reduce, we will reassess the temporary fuel levy and discontinue it when prices allow.

Memberships: At the bi-monthly meeting on Tuesday 21 April eight new memberships were accepted on a provisional basis with five members resigning from active volunteering. This brings the membership levels to fifty-four regular members and twenty-four provisional members.

Awards: Also at the meeting the following people received awards for levels of service:

● Patrick Hurley - ten-year service medal

● Rex Kirk - ten-year service medal presented by the Flotilla Commander

● Michael Odger - five-year service medal

ANZAC Day Saturday 25 April: A group of eleven volunteers from QF11 marched in the Anzac Day parade with the Deputy Flotilla Commander Rex Kirk laying a wreath and presenting books to honour our servicemen and women.



ACTIVATIONS: Yeppoon Flotilla responded to two activations this week, both exceptionally long rescues late last Sunday. The crews performed exceptionally to make safe rescues in the darkness of moonless nights, and to manage safety and fatigue over prolonged voyages.



· Sunday 19 April: At 15:50 Yeppoon Flotilla responded to a request for assistance from the owner of a 7.3m power catamaran. The vessel, with three adults on board, had suffered a broken starter motor and required towing. Yeppoon Rescue Two responded with five volunteer crew members on board and made the 76-mile (140km) transit up to meet the vessel twenty miles east of High Peak Island. Conditions were rough and attaching the tow hook proved difficult due to the design of the vessel. The vessel was taken under tow for the long journey back to Rosslyn Bay Harbour public ramps, with the crew returning to base at 04:00. The owner is a Marine Assist member and donated for the prolonged 12-hour rescue.



· Sunday 19 April: At 19:00 Queensland Police activated the Yeppoon Flotilla to assist a vessel that had run out of fuel near Cape Manifold. The CapRescue helicopter had already been tasked to locate the small vessel, a 6m cuddy cabin with three adults on board. Yeppoon Rescue One responded with three volunteer crew members and reached the boat at 21:00, taking it under tow in darkness from a location 400m north of the rocks of Cape Manifold. The vessel was towed back to Rosslyn Bay Harbour public ramps, with the crew returning to base at 00:50. A donation was made for the rescue.

26/04/2026

SAFETY MESSAGE:

Whilst enjoying being out on the water, it is important to always retain situational awareness, particularly during busy periods when a higher number and variety of vessels may be out in Keppel Bay and around the islands. This is especially important over busy periods such as long weekends.

Situational awareness for boaters comprises multiple concepts:

● Always maintaining awareness of your surroundings, including:

o Other vessels in the area, both underway and anchored

o Ensuring that your radio is on, turned up, and set to monitor channel 16 (and 21 / 22 if dual band capable)

o Monitoring weather forecasts for changes, including during the day whilst out.

o Knowing tidal heights and considering how these affect local currents around islands.

● Capacity to use your vessel’s radio, navigation, and safety systems safely and correctly.

● Planning to consider your total time on water, your fuel consumption and capacity, and accommodating for changes or issues:

o Changing weather conditions can significantly increase fuel consumption on your return journey.

o Strong currents associated with changing tides can also increase fuel consumption, for example transiting towards Corio Bay or the Fitzroy River entrance against a falling tide.

o Crew fatigue can be an issue if returning home late after a busy period at sea; take care to maintain watch and ensure correct decision-making.



Simply put, marine situational awareness means having an accurate understanding of what is happening around you and what is likely to happen. For more tips and guidance on safe boating, check when the next Safe Boating course will run at your local Coast Guard flotilla.

25/04/2026

Anzac Day 2026 - Many thanks to the volunteers who marched today to honour our servicemen and servicewomen.