1 rescued, 4 missing after sailboats capsize in Alabama bay

The Coast Guard announced late Saturday they rescued one person from an Alabama bay after a powerful storm capsized several sailboats participating in a regatta, as crews searched for at least four more missing people.

More than 100 sailboats and as many as 200 people were participating in the area in the Dauphin Island Regatta in Mobile Bay when violent winds rolled through the area. Dauphin Island Mayor Jeff Collier told Al.com that at least one person was confirmed dead, but did not know that cause of the person’s death.

“It’s been a very tragic day,” Michael Smith, with the Buccaneer yacht club, told WSFA-TV. “We’ve had a lock of breakage, missing people, fatalities.”

Petty officer Carlos Vegas said the Coast Guard would search through the night. Many people needed to be pulled from the water after their boats capsized.

Susan Kangal, who was on a boat, told WSFA it was the worst storm she had ever seen.

"We were probably an inch from capsizing; everybody was ready to jump. I didn't have a life jacket on," she said.

 The boats were part of the 57th iteration of the Dauphin Island Race.

"Apparently there were a number of vessels that became distressed, either capsized or what have you," the mayor said. "They were scattered anywhere from Dauphin Island Bridge all the way out into Mobile Bay and across to Fort Morgan. It was a wide area."