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What began as preparations for a mock rescue at Delta Beach turned into a real-life test of the RCMP’s navigation capabilities. Rick Henderson, who manages the Sheila and Rick Henderson Marina, says the original idea was to arrange a drill with the fire department so responders could practise navigating the newly dredged channel and reaching open water quickly. The exercise would ensure crews were familiar with the route before an actual emergency arose, given the long distances from other launch points such as Sportsman’s Corner or Saint Ambroise.
About three weeks ago, RCMP members Darcy Turko and Tony Woodward, along with another officer, launched the police boat at Sportsman’s Corner to map Lake Manitoba. They used the vessel’s onboard GPS system to chart routes and mark key locations. The crew crossed to Delta, successfully entered the marina, then joined Henderson in his larger boat for a run to Saint Ambroise. From there, the RCMP headed to Big Point before returning to Sportsman’s Corner, creating a full track for future rescues.
“They wanted to sort of map the lake,” says Henderson. “They’ve got a nice navigation system on the boat, so they wanted to map the lake.”
Real rescue on the long weekend
That mapping run proved its worth over the August long weekend. Henderson says he was in Saint Ambroise when Turko and another RCMP member received a call around 9 p.m. Sunday about a stranded boater roughly three miles out on the lake. It was dark and windy, but the pair used their GPS charts from the earlier trip to reach the boat, give it a boost, and get it running again.
“It was a good south wind that night too,” adds Henderson. “They’ve got a navigation system set up to go out of the channels, which was good.”
He notes the lake is extremely shallow right now, making dredging work at Delta vital. Without it, launches would have been nearly impossible for the larger rescue boat.
Navigating hazards and conditions
Henderson says the RCMP encountered only one minor issue during the rescue, briefly hitting a sandbar when straying off course. Otherwise, the pre-plotted GPS route guided them through the channels and back without trouble. He adds that this type of access is critical, as Delta offers paved road connections and two launches, allowing crews to arrive in 15 minutes or less.
Most emergencies, Henderson explains, involve swimmers or people on inflatables drifting away from the public beach during strong south winds. The offshore breeze can quickly push them far from shore, and in shallower years they can be carried even farther.
“I’ve picked up people in the lake years every time I’ve been in the boat,” notes Henderson. “You’ll see these floating things out there and go to it right away, because you don’t have somebody still clinging to it.”
The importance of awareness
Henderson says many visitors underestimate how dangerous conditions can be, particularly when waves build up. Even if the north shore may seem safer, a strong south wind can create equally hazardous water. Once an inflatable is swept away, it’s almost impossible to catch up in time.
“It’s a big lake,” continues Henderson. “You’ll never get to them in time. The waves can be as violent going on the south wind as they can be from the north.”
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