Sailboat stranded in Lake Constance - recovery fails due to wind and waves!

Sailboat stranded in Lake Constance - recovery fails due to wind and waves!

Konstanz, Deutschland - A tragic misfortune occurred on Lake Constance when two men were recovered dead from the water on Saturday. They have been missing since Friday evening after wanting to sail from Friedrichshafen to Constance with their sailing ship. The Thurgau cantonal police confirmed that the deceased people were a German and a British. On Saturday the traditional “Iron” regatta took place in Constance, to which many crews came the evening before. When the two men did not arrive at their destination, their disappearance was reported to the German police.

While the emergency services of the Seepolizei and the Thurgau cantonal police discovered a capsized sailing ship in front of the country battle on Saturday morning, fire brigades and water police in the region took the search for the missing men. The two were finally localized in Lake Constance around noon, but were already being recovered dead. The Kreuzlingen public prosecutor has opened a procedure to clarify the circumstances of the accident.

strong storm and problems with the rescue

parallel to the events related to the missing sailors Schwaebische.de Boejenfeld is torn due to a strong east wind. This boat drove into the shallow water of Lake Constance and initially made the salvage impossible due to tumulti -like wavelengths. The Konstanz fire brigade was immediately informed about the accident.

The weather forecast pointed to continued wind and further waves, which is why the rescue measures were planned for Saturday morning. A first examination of the sailboat showed that after the strands it already had considerable damage to the fuselage and Kiel. A recovery over land was not feasible in a water depth of only 50 centimeters, since the accessibility was restricted.

With the help of a special unit of the Konstanz fire brigade, the emergency services started the salvage on Saturday morning. Supported by a fire extinguishing boat and a multi -purpose boat, the boat was secured with four lifting pontoons under the fuselage. After the boat could be spent from the shallow water area, extensive damage was visible in the deeper water: the keel was torn down and a hole of almost two square meters in the fuselage. Because of the structural damage, a safe outdoor with a crane was not possible, which is why a special trailer was organized to hatch the boat on the nearby slip system.

rules for water sports on Lake Constance

In order to prevent such tragedies in the future, it is of great importance to consider the special rules for water sports enthusiasts on Lake Constance. These are defined in the Lake Constance shipping regulations (BSO), which is an international agreement between Germany, Austria and Switzerland. In recent years, the rules that also cover new water sports such as stand-up paddling have been updated. Special caution is required, since the wind and wave conditions on Lake Constance deviate from other lakes and can represent additional risks if you move out too far from the shore.

In addition, water sports enthusiasts should be careful to respect the right of way: sailors have priority in front of SUP drivers, which in turn come before motor boats. With increased awareness of the existing regulations and respect for nature, the risk of such tragic incidents could be reduced in the future. It is crucial to adhere to the applicable safety precautions, especially in adverse weather conditions.