Storm capsizes boats in Northern Ireland regatta

DUBLIN (AP) — Authorities say dozens of small sailboats taking part in a Northern Ireland regatta have capsized in stormy seas, triggering an emergency evacuation involving several lifeboats and a helicopter from the neighboring Republic of Ireland.

Northern Ireland coast guard and lifeboat officials say about 10 people have been treated for hypothermia after their two-member sailboats tipped over in Strangford Lough. They say nobody has been reported missing.

Monday’s trouble came during the first competitive race of a planned week-long regatta in the lough, an almost totally landlocked inlet southeast of Belfast.

Four of the 14-foot (4-meter) dinghies capsized during a practice run Sunday because of high winds and waves driven by the remnants of Hurricane Bertha, which arrived in Britain and Ireland over the weekend.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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