Three men aboard a 26-foot sailboat were escorted to safety on Sunday afternoon after encountering severe conditions on Lake Ontario off the Northumberland County shoreline.
At approximately 4:55 p.m. on August 23, Brighton Rescue, a unit of the Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary, received a call from the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre regarding a sailboat, with three men on board.
The incident began earlier in the afternoon when the three men left Cobourg Harbour at approximately 1 p.m.
Around the Colborne area, the main sail was torn due to what was described as gale force winds, leaving the boat disabled on Lake Ontario with conditions deteriorating.
The Coast Guard cutter Cape Rescue was dispatched at approximately 3:40 p.m. after receiving a cellphone call from the sailboat.
Cape Rescue reached the sailboat first after locating it closer to Colborne.
Conditions on Lake Ontario were described as rough, with strong winds, large waves and squalls moving through the area.
The three men said they had encountered more than one squall during their trip and experienced swells estimated at up to 20 feet.
The situation became even more dangerous when the dinghy being towed behind the sailboat repeatedly capsized and righted itself. Eventually, the men had to cut the dinghy loose because the drag was placing the sailboat at further risk.
The sailboat had a small motor, but due to the conditions on the lake, it was slow going on the water.
The Cape Rescue, escorted the sailboat to Presqu’ile Point, arriving in the area at approximately 5:40 p.m. Brighton Rescue then took over and escorted the vessel to shore at Harbourview Marine.
Fortunately, the three men were brought safely to shore and no injuries were reported.
The incident serves as another reminder of how quickly conditions on Lake Ontario can change and how important it is for boaters to check the weather before leaving shore, particularly when strong winds and squalls are in the forecast. And always wear a life jacket/pfd.
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
