World

UK: Sailors Tossed Into Sea

June 2, 1999 / 1:38 PM EDT / AP

A sudden storm ripped through a regatta off England's south coast Wednesday, capsizing 77 vessels, authorities said. Twenty-two people were reported missing.

A total of 150 sailors were hurled into the water shortly before 4 p.m., when high winds caught the vessels, mostly Dart catamarans, tipping crews into the sea, police and coast guard said.

Helicopters searched for the missing sailors in bad weather.

Â"A relay mayday call was made by the coast guard which attracted up to 10 private boats into the area to lend assistance,Â" the Maritime and Coastguard Agency said in a statement.

The regatta off Weymouth, 120 miles south of London, had begun in calm weather. Then a sudden storm struck.

Â"We are presently trying to account for all of the crews taking part in the regatta,Â" said Peter Pritchard, a spokesman for the Portland coast guard.

Â"The weather is not particuarly good at present,Â" he said, noting rescuers were battling winds of about 35 mph, mist, low clouds and rough seas.

Weymouth and District General Hospital went on major accident alert in anticipation of treating those plunged into the sea.

Dart catamarans are high-performance sailing dinghies with twin hulls. The trampoline-like netting platform of the Dart, which joins the hulls, supports the two-person crew but offers no protection against the sea or the elements.

Dart sailors wear protective clothing for immersion, either a wetsuit or other waterproof apparel, and racing rules require that buoyancy aids be worn.