Blue Ribbon of the Gulf Regatta suspended. Rescue operation on Gdańsk Bay as SAR recovers sailors from the water
The prestigious Blue Ribbon of the Gulf of Gdańsk Regatta in Gdynia was interrupted on Saturday after strong winds and rough seas caused two yachts to capsize, with one suffering a broken mast. Thanks to the swift response of the Polish Maritime Search and Rescue Service (SAR), all sailors were safely recovered from the water.
In brief
The Blue Ribbon of the Gulf of Gdańsk regatta in Gdynia was halted on Saturday before noon due to strong wind and high waves, after two yachts capsized, one of which lost its mast. The incident occurred shortly after 11:00, and the Maritime Search and Rescue Service dispatched two rescue crews. Eight people were recovered from the water, none required medical assistance, and the yacht with the broken mast was towed to port. Maritime Search and Rescue Service Director Sebastian Kluska stressed that safety always comes first.
SAR response in Gdańsk Bay
The incident occurred shortly after 11:00 a.m. local time, when sudden gusts hit the racing fleet. Two SAR rescue vessels were immediately dispatched to the scene.
- Eight sailors were taken out of the water. None of them required medical assistance. The yacht with the broken mast has already been towed back to port, said Sebastian Kluska, Director of SAR, commenting on the incident.
According to Kluska, the challenging conditions triggered a wave of distress calls from other competitors, but most of them turned out not to require direct assistance. “In such situations we treat every report as serious, but the situation is now fully under control,” he added.
Racing suspended, crews safe
Race organizers decided to suspend the regatta in view of the conditions. In total, eight people were rescued from the water, and all are reported to be safe and in good health.
- Safety is always the top priority. Under these circumstances continuing the race was impossible, Kluska emphasized.
Difficult sailing conditions
On Saturday, Gdańsk Bay was hit by strong winds and heavy seas, creating very challenging conditions for sailors. These weather factors directly led to the capsizes and mast damage during the regatta.
Source: Gazeta Morska · Compiled by: Kamil Kusier
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