Photo courtesy of the Vermilion Police Department.
The Vermilion Police Department Marine Patrol Unit responded this afternoon to a distress call involving a 34-foot sailboat that had run aground roughly 500 yards off Sherod Park in Lake Erie.
According to a public post by the Vermilion Police Department, two crew members were aboard the vessel as it became stuck in 2- to 3-foot waves. The Marine Patrol Unit arrived on scene and safely transferred both individuals onto the patrol boat without injury. Tow Boat USA later responded and successfully freed the sailboat, towing it back to Vermilion for evaluation.
This stretch of shoreline near Sherod Park is known for its hazards. Although 500 yards from land may seem like a safe distance, the lake remains quite shallow in this area — only about four feet deep — and is riddled with submerged boulders and remnants of old piers.
“Search and rescue missions are the top priority,” the department wrote in its post, “and we are happy that this incident had a safe and successful conclusion.”
Boaters are encouraged to use caution and familiarize themselves with local water conditions before venturing out.
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