Boats capsize during regatta

One person was treated for hypothermia and three boats capsized in high winds during the Aviemore Classic regatta at Lake Aviemore.

Police were called to the scene about noon yesterday following reports several yachts had capsized at the annual yachting regatta on Lake Aviemore.

High winds battered competitors for up to 30 minutes as the wind picked up and overturned three craft.

Police said 15 people were in the water, some for up to 20 minutes, before being rescued by a rescue boat on duty.

The yachts were reported to be racing from Otematata River to the Aviemore Dam.

A member of the Timaru Yacht Club who attended the event said he was meant to compete in the event yesterday but cancelled at the last minute after his yacht sustained damaged on Saturday while he was sailing.

‘‘We knew the wind was going to come up on Sunday and we didn’t want to risk further damage.’’

He was at yesterday’s event and saw three overturned yachts towed to shore.

‘‘Someone suffered hypothermia. It was good sailing conditions but the big nor’west wind gusts came in.’’

Gordon Collister, commodore of the Timaru Yacht and Power Boat Club (TYPBC) said in any race, the final decision to go out on the water, was the skipper’s.

‘‘It was a short burst of very strong north west winds,’’ he said.

About 50 competitors made their way from a boat harbour at Otematata and sailed near the Aviemore Dam when they were hit by high winds, he said.

‘‘The lake is known for strong winds.’’ Gordon Collister Commodore of the Timaru Yacht and Power Boat Club

‘‘They were stuck with about 30 minutes of very strong north west winds blowing from all directions.’’

All three capsized boats were recovered, he said.

Collister said there had been mast breakages over the years during the annual event.

He said the rescue coordination worked very well.

‘‘The lake is known for strong winds.’’

A police spokeswoman said the coastguard was on the scene, along with police and ambulance staff.

Three people were checked over by ambulance staff.

‘‘Latest update is that everyone’s out of the water," the police spokeswoman said.

A Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) spokesman said two trucks, one pump appliance, and another with medical equipment, both from Otematata, attended the incident at the scene.