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Thirty rescued from sea in storm Thirty rescued from sea in storm
(1 day later)
Thirty competitors in a sailing regatta off the west coast of Scotland have had to be rescued after a squall overturned their boats. Thirty competitors in a sailing regatta off the west coast of Scotland had to be rescued after a squall overturned their boats.
Coastguard, lifeboat and helicopter crews were scrambled at about 1845 BST on Wednesday after bad weather hit the event, off Plockton in Wester Ross.Coastguard, lifeboat and helicopter crews were scrambled at about 1845 BST on Wednesday after bad weather hit the event, off Plockton in Wester Ross.
Regatta organisers said that all those thrown into the sea were accounted for by 2015 BST. Regatta organisers said all those thrown into Loch Carron were accounted for by 2015 BST.
None of them needed medical attention, Stornoway Coastguard later confirmed. Stornoway Coastguard later said none of them needed medical attention.
It is understood 15 boats were struck by the squall. The race was due to be re-run.
Lifejackets worn Fourteen boats were struck by the squall.
People assume that the weather in the summer is going to be fairly benign but these sudden squalls come through, which are not uncommon, and people quite frequently get caught out Angus MurrayStornoway coastguard
Some competitors were pulled from the water by crews on the race's two rescue boats, before coastguard teams from Portree, Kyle and Broadford reached the scene.Some competitors were pulled from the water by crews on the race's two rescue boats, before coastguard teams from Portree, Kyle and Broadford reached the scene.
Martin Collins, of Stornoway Coastguard, said bad weather can quickly turn sea expeditions into a dangerous situation. Angus Murray, of Stornoway Coastguard, told BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland programme the rescue had gone "very smoothly".
"The race organisers had taken the precaution of making sure all participants were wearing lifejackets, accompanying the fleet with two rescue boats and raised the alarm straight away," he said. He said: "The main thing was that there were 30 people in the water which is a considerable amount of people requiring a lot of resources if things did go wrong.
"Because of these safety precautions this unpleasant incident didn't end in tragedy." "Fortunately, things worked out fine."
Mr Murray said conditions before the incident had been "moderate and not severe by any means" but added that there had been a sudden squall.
"People assume that the weather in the summer is going to be fairly benign but these sudden squalls come through, which are not uncommon, and people quite frequently get caught out," he said.
He added that the race participants had all been wearing lifejackets and were being accompanied by two rescue boats which got many of the people out of the water.
Mr Murray stressed the importance of organisers having an action plan in case things go wrong.
One of his colleagues said that due to the safety precautions in place "this unpleasant incident didn't end in tragedy".