COASTGUARD NEWS - SCOTLAND & NI          

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Scotland & NI 179/01
14 August 2001

COASTGUARD ASSIST CAPSIZED DINGHIES

Belfast Coastguard received a 999 call at 3.30 pm on 12 August 2001 when a squall capsized five laser dinghies as they were racing in Dundrum Bay, County Down. The nine laser dinghies with eighteen young people on board were unexpectedly hit by the squall - a sudden gust of wind and rain - which capsized five of the dinghies throwing ten people into the water.Newcastle Yacht Club called the Coastguard requesting immediate assistance for the ten people in the water.


'Dundrum Bay' south of Downpatrick
The Newcastle All Weather Lifeboat and Inshore Lifeboat were launched along with two of the yacht club's rescue boats.

By 4.15 pm all of the young people had been brought back to the Newcastle Yacht Club by the lifeboats and rescue boats and their dinghies recovered.

Liam Colquhoun, Belfast Coastguard Watch Manager said: "When the race started out this morning, there was hardly any wind and a squall was certainly not forecast. However, when the squall arrived all of the young people involved were very well prepared for all eventualities with wetsuits as well as lifejackets. They were picked up very quickly and returned to shore where all are safe and well."