8 Rescued After Sailboat Capsizes During Race In San Francisco Bay

Eight people were rescued after a sailing vessel began taking on water during a race in San Francisco Bay on Saturday afternoon, officials said.

The Sea Scout Ship Viking, which is used to teach high-school girls how to sail as part of an all-girls program in partnership with the San Francisco Sailing Whaleboat Association, had only adult mariners on board during the Master Mariners race on Saturday, the SSS Viking program confirmed on social media.

The 30-foot Viking began taking on water at around 1:30 p.m. Saturday, and when another vessel in the area attempted to tow the boat, it flipped on its side, according to the Coast Guard. The “seasoned crew” righted the Viking and climbed back aboard, but it was still taking on water.

The U.S. Coast Guard and San Francisco Fire Department responded to the scene, and the Coast Guard rescued eight crew members. The captain was “unwilling to disembark,” however, and remained with the vessel to wait for a tow, despite suggestions from both the Coast Guard and the Fire Department to leave the scene with them.

When the Coast Guard boat crew temporarily left the area to transport the eight rescued crew members to shore, the Viking flipped on its side once again.

“The SFFD strongly discouraged people putting themselves in danger,” the fire department said.

A TowBoat US vessel was able to tow the Viking into Aquatic Park “with the captain still on the hull,” the Coast Guard said. Once there, the boat was righted and moored at the pier.

No one was injured in the incident.

SSS Viking said the boat’s rudder failed, causing it to capsize. It was being sailed by “adult alumni” of the program, and there were not youths on board.

“The boat was never in danger of sinking due to its being a wooden lifeboat,” SSS Viking said. “The experienced pilot stayed with the vessel to supervise the tow.”