Trimaran Breaks Apart After Stormy Pioneer River Struggle

A dramatic turn of events unfolded on Wednesday night last week when a trimaran sought refuge from rough seas in the Pioneer River, only to run aground on a sandbar and be battered by strong winds and waves.
The incident occurred around 7:30 pm as the vessel attempted to navigate the river’s shifting approach during an outgoing tide and 25-knot winds. The challenging conditions holed the trimaran’s hull, leaving it stranded and partially submerged.
At 3:30 am, Mackay Police contacted Marine Rescue Queensland Mackay (MRQ), alerting them to the situation. The crew of the trimaran had reported themselves safe, and given the hazardous conditions, MRQ postponed recovery efforts until daylight.
At first light, MRQ’s crew, led by duty skipper Don B, launched from the River Street ramp. They located the trimaran high and dry on the sandbar and helped its crew retrieve personal belongings. The vessel was secured with an anchor to prevent it from drifting, and the crew was later collected by friends at the ramp.
Over the following tides, the trimaran was broken apart by the rough conditions. During the process, the vessel’s emergency position-indicating radio beacon (EPIRB) floated free and activated, prompting another callout. MRQ launched again at dawn to locate and deactivate the beacon.
A spokesperson for Marine Rescue Queensland Mackay commented on social media, "The only silver linings here are that no lives were lost and there were no serious injuries."

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Photos supplied: Marine Rescue Queensland Mackay

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