2 Dead, 5 Missing After Sudden Squall Hits Alabama Sailing Regatta

Source: npr

At least two people are dead and five others missing after a powerful storm swept through a race regatta in Alabama's Mobile Bay, capsizing sailboats.

Ideal race conditions suddenly turned Saturday afternoon, when winds quickly went from 15 knots to 50 knots, generating waves as high as 10 feet along the 18-mile course.

One body was plucked from the water Saturday night and another today as a Coast Guard search continued for five sailors still unaccounted for, The Associated Press quoted Petty Officer Carlos Vega as saying.

"Apparently there were a number of vessels that became distressed, either capsized or what have you. They were scattered anywhere from Dauphin Island Bridge all the way out into Mobile Bay and across to Fort Morgan. It was a wide area," Dauphin Island Mayor Jeff Collier told AL.com.




Read more: http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2015/04/26/402363680/1-dead-4-missing-after-sudden-squall-hits-sailing-regatta-in-alabama

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Up to 50 of the 200 racers were rescued from the water. These aren't rich plaything boats, but regular ol' sailboats by folks that like to get out and sail together.

10 foot seas and 50 knot winds aren't the conditions these 20 something foot coastal sailboats are designed to handle.