Two sailors rescued in Lake Ontario storm

OAKVILLE – Halton police rescued two sea-sick sailors after their 26-foot sailboat was stripped of its mast and sails in a vicious storm on Lake Ontario late Sunday.

The police marine unit found the wreck and rescued two people on board after an hour-long search in wind-whipped, two-metre waves after lightning made cell phone conversation with the skipper impossible.

As well, police said, the boat had lost its running lights.

The drama began at 9 p.m. as powerful thunderstorms and torrential rain driven by high winds swept across lake Ontario between Oakville and Bronte just after 9 p.m.

The skipper of a 26-foot sailboat called police on a cell phone to say they had lost their sails and lines as well as on-board electrical power.

He also said they were becoming sea sick due to the heavy swells.

The Halton marine rig Alliance 2 with two marine officers was  dispatched to begin an area search. Towarf, Oakville's Water Air Rescue Force auxiliary coast guard unit, was also dispatched.

Don Cousens, Halton police acting Inspector emergency services, said in a statement that due  to the electrical storm, police  were unable to contact the distressed vessel further to assist in locating them.

Prescott Coast Guard radio and the Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre in Trenton were notified and alerted as to the nature of the call and their alert readiness was increased. 

Cousens said Halton police cruisers on shore called in sightings and the marine board using forward looking infra-red. on board radar and various search patterns finally located the boat after approximately one hour.  

Cousens said the skipper and passenger were “unwell and in obvious distress” and the sailboat was taken under tow and returned to Oakville harbour.