The Royal Bermuda Regiment Coastguard came to the aid of four sailors who found themselves in the water when rough weather struck the island on Friday.

An incident report from the Department of Marine and Ports Services said that Bermuda Radio received a mayday call from two sail-training dinghies that had capsized in the Great Sound.

The boats, each of which had two crew members on board, had left Mangrove Bay for Dockyard when the incident happened.

“Bermuda Radio was able to use its systems to pinpoint their position and task a Royal Bermuda Regiment Coastguard vessel from Boaz Island to the incident scene to assist,” the report said.

“All four persons wearing personal flotation devices were quickly recovered from the water and the two capsized sailboats were also later recovered without further damage.

“Higher-than-expected winds in passing squalls were a contributing factor, but the vessel occupants being in possession of a marine VHF handheld radio allowed for rapid determination of their location using radio direction finding by the Rescue Co-ordination Centre as well as particulars about their predicament being quickly communicated to Bermuda Radio and other vessels in the vicinity.”