Capsized sailor's life jacket comes to the rescue
by TrueLocal/Sail-World Cruising on 10 Jan 2013
Sad sight - Jacqueline back at the shore SW
A Sydney sailor spent more than an hour in the water clinging to his trailer yacht after it capsized on Tuggerah Lake on the Central Coast this week.
Alex Lorkin told rescuers he was thrown into the water west of Pelican Island after his yacht, the Jacqueline, was hit by a wave and overturned about 3.30pm.
Being a sensible sailor, he was wearing a life jacket at the time. Otherwise the long wait for rescue could have caused a very different outcome.
Eventually, reported the TrueLocal, another boat came to Mr Lorkin's rescue and gave him a lift back to The Entrance jetty.
Marine Rescue at The Entrance was also notified and towed the disabled boat to the North Entrance boat ramp.
A spokesman said they had to act quickly as the capsized boat was a potential danger to other boaties in the fading light.
The spokesman said Mr Lorkin was grateful for the assistance he received from both his rescuer and the Marine Rescue crew.
He intended taking the boat back to where he was staying at Chittaway Point for repairs before returning to his Sydney home.
Marine Rescue The Entrance told TrueLocal conditions on the lake over the past week have often been difficult with three rescues carried out over a five-day period.
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