Coasts Guard Rescues Students Who Capsized During Sailing Class

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — Sudden wind gusts in Bayboro Harbor in St. Petersburg Thursday night caused a sailboat being used in a University of South Florida St. Petersburg sailing class to capsize, spilling two student sailors into the water.

Crews at the Coast Guard Station St. Petersburg witnessed the students struggling with the small university sailboats from the shore of the station and went to assist the students.

The Coast Guard recovered two students from the water and placed two of the sailboats in tow to prevent them from hitting the rocks. The students were taken to the campus docks once all the sailboats had been safely escorted to the school moorings. All students were wearing life jackets.

"Winds around 25 miles per hour struck the harbor while the sailing class was in session," said Senior Chief Petty Officer Timothy Abrams, officer-in-charge of Station St. Petersburg. "Most of the student boats returned to campus with the assistance of the instructor vessel. The capsized sailboat was re-righted and towed back to the campus docks."