Monmouth Fire Department received a report of an overturned boat on Cochnewagon Pond late Tuesday afternoon, just after winds picked up and a series of downpours began to move into the area.

It was reported that there were people in the water. When rescue personnel arrived at the boat launch next to Monmouth Beach, they could barely see across the pond where the boat was floating on its side. Sheets of wind-driven rain prevented them from identifying what they saw bobbing in the increasing waves. As Winthrop Fire Department dispatched its rescue boat, Monmouth Chief Dan Roy launched his personal bass boat and headed out across the pond. After a tense search, they received a report that the three sailors had made their way to shore.

“Everyone is safe and accounted for,” Roy said. “It appears the small sailboat capsized due to the strong winds that picked up at the onset of the storm.”