Courtesy of U.S. Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg
By Savannah Carr
The sailing team drew national attention after sailors from U.S. Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg brought five students ashore from Bayboro Harbor on Sept. 12.
According to a news release, winds of 25 mph caused the boats to capsize during a sailing class. All of the students were wearing life jackets, and most returned to campus with the help of the instructor vessel.
The Coast Guard towed two boats to prevent them from hitting the rocks.
“Fortunately for sail students at USFSP, Coast Guard Station St. Petersburg is right next door to keep an eye out for trouble,” the Coast Guard said in a tweet.
But Sam Kappaz, the sailing team’s secretary, said the incident “was not serious enough for the Coast Guard to intervene.”
“While we appreciate their help, dinghies flip sometimes,” she said. “It’s just part of our sport.”
The incident was reported in Stars and Stripes and the Associated Press.
Olivia Smith, a member of the sailing team, said the people on the capsized boat were beginners who didn’t know how to recover their vessel.
“When we went out, the winds were not overpowering, and when we realized the winds were gaining speed, we started to head in,” she said. “We had our safety boat out there trying to help, but the current pushed them into the rocks. That’s when the Coast Guard came to help.”
Fortunately, most sailing students are well prepared for incidents such as this, according to team member Delaney Brown. Many have previous experience, and those who don’t are taught what to do, she said.
“If they are brand new to the sport, we recommend they take Campus Recreation’s ‘Start Sailing Right Course,’ which goes over the basics of sailing and teaches capsize recovery,” Brown said.
“Usually, when a storm comes in and brings a lot of wind, we only send a smaller group of sailors that are able to confidently handle a boat in breezier conditions.”
