B.C. sailors recount critical decisions in rescue after charter boat sinking in Strait of Georgia

Brian Angus and Dorothy Stauffer, a married couple from Vancouver, encountered a maritime emergency on Sunday morning while beginning their annual multi-month sailing trip from Coal Harbour. Travelling aboard their 33-foot yacht, Malaika, they came across survivors of a fishing charter boat that had sunk in the Strait of Georgia, resulting in six individuals missing and presumed drowned. The incident occurred within hours of their departure and required immediate action as the couple navigated choppy seas.

Angus, a former Air Canada pilot, was scanning for hazards when he noticed people in the water just five feet from their boat. Stauffer, a service director with the airline, emerged from below deck and identified additional individuals in distress. Angus promptly issued a mayday call at around noon as the scale of the situation became clear.

The survivors, none of whom were wearing life-jackets, were seen holding their mobile phones above water. According to Angus, "It was all they could do, to raise their arm and wave at me with their iPhones. They wouldn’t let go of their iPhones." He also described the absence of panic among the group, who simply requested assistance.

Angus faced a critical decision as three people were clustered together, while two others were separated by a distance of 100 to 200 yards. He determined that only the nearest group of three could be reached immediately. The Malaika was towing a small inflatable dinghy, which Angus manoeuvred towards the survivors. Stauffer attempted to communicate with those in the water, but a language barrier impeded instructions. Eventually, the woman among the three managed to enter the dinghy, while the two men held onto its handles.

Angus and Stauffer reported losing visual contact with the two others in the water. The process of securing the three survivors took approximately 18 minutes, after which a Canadian Coast Guard hovercraft arrived and took over the rescue operation. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) stated that a fourth person was rescued during the incident. Of those rescued, two were transported to hospital in critical condition, with two others later discharged. The Joint Rescue Coordination Centre in Victoria reported that the four survivors had been hypothermic after spending less than an hour in the water.

Vernon Wang, a licensed sightseeing boat operator in English Bay, Vancouver, said he knew the captain of the charter vessel that sank and confirmed the captain had died in the incident. Wang described the captain as being in his early twenties and noted the impact the tragedy had on the charter boat industry, describing a sense of shock among colleagues. Wang also planned to offer support to the captain’s family and emphasized the importance of clients choosing licensed boating operators and inspecting vessels before embarking on fishing trips.

Richmond RCMP did not confirm the identity of the captain, but indicated their focus was on recovery efforts and supporting affected families. An RCMP underwater recovery team was assigned to search for the sunken vessel, believed to be at a depth of between 150 and 180 metres. The investigation into the cause of the sinking and the confirmation of the identities of the six missing individuals remains ongoing, according to Richmond RCMP.

The Transportation Safety Board (TSB) announced the deployment of a team to investigate the circumstances surrounding the sinking as of Tuesday. The TSB’s involvement is standard procedure in major marine incidents to determine contributing factors and make safety recommendations.

Angus and Stauffer attributed their response in part to emergency training received through their airline careers. Stauffer said that feedback from other rescuers and sailors affirmed that they had done as much as possible under the circumstances. "We couldn’t have done anything more. It’s just the way it was worded to us. There is nothing more we could have done," she stated.

Angus highlighted the importance of boating safety, particularly the use of life-jackets, as a key lesson from the incident. "I don’t want to be called a hero again," he said. "I want people to remember about going out in a boat and not wearing a life-jacket."

The incident has raised discussions within the local maritime community regarding safety standards, preparedness, and the importance of regulatory compliance for commercial operators. The depth at which the vessel sank presents challenges for recovery efforts, and authorities continue to prioritize support for affected families and the ongoing investigation.

The event underscores the risks associated with marine travel in coastal British Columbia and the role of bystanders and trained responders in maritime emergencies. While the efforts of Angus and Stauffer contributed to saving lives, the fate of the six missing individuals and the final determination of causal factors remain unresolved as investigations proceed.