‘RUBBER neckers’ were excited on Friday morning to hear of a ‘suspicious’ boat anchored in the channel of the Camden Haven River.

Was it an Indonesian fishing vessel? It looked run-down enough to cast that thought. Did the boat drop off illegal immigrants in the dead of night, like occurred at Crescent Head a few years ago?

Customs officers from Newcastle were on their way and police were involved – were there drugs or other suspicious substances on board? Were two people arrested?

Suspicions were roused at dawn when local Camden Haven Sea Rescue volunteers noticed the large vessel anchored in the channel. Radio communication failed to raise anyone on board.

A sea rescue volunteer decided to use the old-fashioned, but sure-fire, technique of calling out to anyone on board to state their name and purpose in the Camden Haven.

A sleep-deprived skipper surfaced.

Failing to gain any information the Sea Rescue volunteers, as they are trained to do, contacted the police and Customs.

The skipper and his crewman motored out of the channel and moored at the Laurieton United Servicemen’s Club wharf, dwarfing an impressive yacht sharing the spot.

The secretary manager of the club greeted the skipper. It was none other than former local Paul Doney going about his “day job” of transporting boats around the world. This time around he was delivering a run-down boat from Cairns to Sydney for renovations.

Mr Doney said he entered the river at 3am. Forecasts of bad weather meant he needed a sheltered place to make repairs.

At 3am the tide was low, and Mr Doney knew of a sand bank further up the channel. Any less experienced sailor could have easily run aground.

Mr Doney ‘cast his pick’ and got some sleep, turning off his radio. He stayed in the Camden Haven for a couple of days.

Yes, Customs officers did inspect the vessel. No one was arrested.

While there are no laws stating Mr Doney must make contact with the Sea Rescue, unless in distress, he will probably be leaving his radio on next time he’s passing through.