[This article was updated with new information 2012-06-15 18:20]
A sailing incident on Lake Auman Friday morning turned out to be less dramatic than early reports suggested, West End Fire and Rescue [WEFR] Chief Wayne Kennedy told The Times.
Those monitoring police scanners would have heard reports that suggested a large boat had capsized near Pine Island, trapping one or more individuals underneath.
Kennedy told The Times that his rescue boat arrived at the scene to find a small sailboat that had in fact turtled, and a sailor having difficulty righting the boat in a choppy water. With an assist from WEFR personnel, the boat was righted and the sailor joined the half-dozen or more Sunfish enjoying a great day for sailing.
Seven Lakes West's Lake & Dam Director Bruce Keyser told The Times via email Friday afternoon that the removable keel of the boat was dislodged win it toppled over. The skipper "a strong swimmer and wearing a life vest," was under the boat attempting to replace the keel.
"Rescue boats were sent from a list kept at the main gate along with the rescue boat from West End Volunteer fire department to assist and stood by," Keyser wrote." Seven Lakes EMS was transported to the scene on one of the responding rescue boats. The skipper righted the boat, with assistance from one of the vessels, but chose to be towed to shore rather than continue sailing."
"The person who called it in was right to report it," Kennedy said. "Because they didn't know whether maybe someone was injured."
In addition to the West End Rescue Truck and Boat, Seven Lakes Fire and Rescue, Seven Lakes EMS, and Moore County EMS were called to respond.
Kennedy said his crew launched the rescue boat from a remote spot on the Morgan Wood side of Lake Auman Dam, rather than driving all the way around to Johnson Point and then having to motor all the way across the lake.
"That worked out pretty well," Kennedy told The Times. "We got there pretty quick."
