It was a harrowing evening Thursday for two Squamish boaters and members of the Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue.
Winds were high much of the day, funnelling up Howe Sound and gusting at 60 knots, or 111km/h, at the Squamish Spit at 1 p.m., according to Environment Canada.
Squamish marine rescue volunteers headed out Thursday evening in search of people in need of help, said unit leader Shane Hayes.
They soon came across a couple of boaters.
The two people were trapped on the pontoons of the Darrell Bay ferry terminal with a swamped dinghy, "having made an attempt to escape a failing sailing vessel on the rocks of the bay," Hayes said.
The rescuers were able to pluck the boaters from the pontoons and placed them and their small dinghy safely at the dock at about 5:45 p.m.
Everyone is fine, Hayes said.
The marine unit members returned to Darrell Bay at about 8 p.m. to ensure the area was safe and there were no further concerns.
"The persons in question were still on site, dry and thankful for the efforts of our crew," Hayes said.
