Ham radio operators assist in ocean rescue

Ham radio operators are often mis-understood. When people think of them at all, it’s usually in the context of “radio nuts” or “prehistoric geeks.”

But ham radio operators are much more, a point understood last Sunday when two radio enthusiasts of Madison helped rescue two sailboat operators off the coast of southern Mexico.

The boarders had lost engine power and steerage and were being tossed around in 4-to- 5-foot waves. After the boaters’ marine radio failed them, they resorted to a ham radio. Their “mayday” pleas were heard about 2,000 miles away by Toal and Henes, who, with the help of another ham radio operator, Dick Mannheimer, notified authorities and talked the boarders through the ordeal.

In a later e-mail to Henes, one of the sailors, Ken Scheibe, reported that he and his friend were rescued on their 35-foot sailboat by the Mexican Navy.

He thanked Henes and the other ham operators profusely, signing off with “Con mucho respecto.”

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