French sailing crew rescued after Grand Banks collision with fishing vessel

The eight-crew members of a French sailing vessel had to be rescued following a collision with a Newfoundland fishing vessel on Friday night, July 12.

At around 9 p.m., the Traidunion, a French catamaran, and the August Gale, a crab fishing boat, collided about 160 nautical miles east of St. John’s.

The catamaran capsized and the eight-person crew were taken aboard the fishing vessel. The Coast Guard ship Wilfred Grenfell eventually collected the crew and took them back to St. John’s.

The August Gale continued fishing.

The catamaran was part of a flotilla returning to France from 400th anniversary celebrations in Quebec City. Officials with the Coast Guard were warning vessels to be on the look-out for the overturned boat.

(From the Telegram)