Sailboaters had to be rescued from their foundering craft July 28 when a storm whipped up waves more than a metre high on Gull Lake.
June MacIntosh, who manages the Sunset Legion Campground on the west side of the lake, said campers reported seeing a sailboat in trouble about 2 p.m.
“The waves were so high they couldn’t get out to get at them,” said MacIntosh.
MacIntosh, who has been at the lake for 15 years, said sailing conditions were as bad as she’s seen.
“It was very windy. There were three- to four-foot waves in that lake yesterday. I haven’t seen that before.”
MacIntosh swore off boating on the lake after weathering a storm a number of years ago. “Gull Lake is very unforgiving. It can be nice one minute and five minutes later it can be a horrible storm.
“When you see clouds and blackness get to shore now. Don’t try to get home, just get to shore.”
Blackfalds-based Aquatech Diving Service was on the scene for the recovery operation July 29.
MacIntosh was told only part of the mast and the bow were sticking out of the water when divers went out to recover the boat from about 10 metres of water.
Blackfalds RCMP Sgt. Jim Derouin said the owner of the boat called police about 7:15 p.m. to alert them that the boat had turned over.
“He said don’t worry about it, I’ve got guys out tomorrow who are going to pick it up,” said Derouin.
By Paul Cowley, Red Deer Advocate