The accident took place on 15 August 2026 on the Flensburg Fjord. The sailor was sailing alone in his 15er dinghy cruiser. After he fell into the water, the boat drifted unmanned in the waters.
Mayday call and PLB signal
At around 2.30 pm, Bremen Rescue Radio – the maritime rescue coordination centre operated by the German Maritime Search and Rescue Service (DGzRS) – received a Mayday call. Via the international VHF emergency and calling channel 16, sailors reported an unmanned sailing boat near the Kalkgrund lighthouse.
The operations centre alerted the sea rescue boats “Werner Kuntze” from the Langballigau station and “Ursula Dettmann” from the Gelting station. Shortly afterwards, a signal was also received from a personal locator beacon. Such a personal locator beacon – or PLB for short – can transmit the wearer’s position in an emergency.
The BOOTE feature on … illustrates how the DGzRS units operate and what roles they play in rescue operations. Sea rescue boats and their operations.
Motor yacht crew rescue the man
Even before the sea rescue team reached the scene, the crew of a motor yacht contacted Bremen Rescue Radio. The crew had rescued the man from the water after he had fallen overboard. He was suffering from mild hypothermia but was responsive and, according to the rescuers, in good health.
The “Ursula Dettmann” first approached the motor yacht. It transpired that the man who had been rescued had triggered the PLB signal himself. Medical assistance was not required.
Prompt assistance from other water sports enthusiasts can be crucial in the event of a man-overboard incident. In the event of a Man-overboard rescue off the coast of Rügen Crew members also immediately made an emergency call on Channel 16. Another incident off Lubmin illustrates the dangers of cold water: one of the two anglers rescued there later died as a result of severe Hypothermia.
Unmanned boat washed ashore
Once the motor yacht had set course for the harbour with the rescued solo sailor on board, the “Ursula Dettmann” headed for the dinghy cruiser. The lifeboat crew came alongside. Two crew members climbed onto the unmanned boat and secured a line between the two vessels.
The rescue boat then towed the stricken vessel safely into harbour. The motor yacht had also moored there in the meantime and brought the man who had fallen overboard ashore.
Hypothermia remains a risk
At the time of the operation, the wind was blowing from the north-west at four to five on the Beaufort scale. The wave height was around one metre, and the water temperature was around 19 degrees Celsius.
Even at such temperatures, a man who falls overboard can quickly find himself in mortal danger. Cold shock, a loss of muscle strength and exhaustion make it difficult to swim and hold on. A lifejacket that keeps the wearer in a position that prevents them from losing consciousness, together with an immediate emergency call, increase the chances of survival.
For solo sailors, it is also important to note that whilst a PLB can speed up the search for a person who has fallen overboard, it is no substitute for a suitable lifejacket or measures to prevent falling into the water.
Further articles on this topic
Book recommendations
Yacht accidents analyses typical types of incident, such as a person overboard, and shows how to identify risks and prevent accidents. It also covers emergency communications, AIS, radar, risk management and the human factor. The book thus provides background knowledge for skippers and crews who need to act quickly and in a structured manner in an emergency situation.
Step-by-step harbour manoeuvres – with a motorboat is aimed at motorboat skippers and explains mooring and unmooring manoeuvres from a bird’s-eye view. The book covers various types of propulsion as well as situations at the jetty, at the mooring line and in the berth. It also covers safe anchoring, turning, repositioning, towing and passing through locks.
Lars Bolle
Chief Editor Digital