Rough seas are being blamed for a boating incident where five persons on board an open 12-foot dinghy had to be rescued Saturday evening from the waters off Ram's Head on the southeastern tip of St. John.
Coast Guard spokesman Chief Steven Pothier said Sunday his agency was notified at 6:03 p.m. Saturday of the incident, which left the dinghy overturned and its five occupants in the water. He said everyone was reported safe by 10 p.m. "The National Park Service went out and grabbed the five persons when the call came in," Pothier said. He said the original call said the vessel was taking on water, but later it was determined it had capsized.
Pothier said he understood the vessel came in too close to the shoreline and "got caught up in a wave which flipped the dinghy." No one was seriously injured in the incident, Pothier said.
Reportedly, the park service responded after learning that neither vessels from the Planning and Natural Resources Department nor the Police Marine Unit were available.
The National Weather Service forecast office in San Juan said strong easterly winds and rough seas will continue to make for hazardous marine conditions across the local coastal waters through Tuesday. A small craft advisory is in effect for all the local Atlantic and Caribbean coastal waters.
