Boaters Rescued From Lake Michigan Amid High Winds, Heavy Rain

EVANSTON, IL — Rescuers retrieved about two dozen people from Lake Michigan Tuesday amid heavy rains and strong winds that capsized boats and sent them crashing to shore, authorities said.

Around 5:30 p.m., the U.S. Coast Guard and the Evanston Fire Department got word of several overturned sailboats off the shoreline of Evanston and Wilmette, from where the Sheridan Shore Sailing School had launched boats.

"We were notified that there were 18 small sailing vessels near Evanston that were part of a sailing school that experienced some bad weather resulting in a report of 23 people in the water," Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer George Degener said. "So our Station Wilmette launched a boat crew, and they were able to get six people out of the water, who were all wearing life jackets."

However, two people who were not affiliated with the sailing school did not have life jackets, according to Evanston Fire Department Division Chief Kim Kull. They were spotted clinging to capsized boats with the help of a citizen photographer and city staff on the shore.

The department's personal watercraft rescue team, its jet skis and the Evanston's lifeguard boat helped coordinate with the Coast Guard to locate and pluck the two people out of the water and take them to Wilmette Harbor, Kull said.

"The waves were very rough," Kull said. "The rescue efforts were fantastic, and I'm very proud of our members as well as the U.S. Coast Guard for all they've done, as well as the Evanston lifeguards. Everybody was very much engaged, and they were on their game."

The National Weather Service issued a special marine warning for Lake Michigan from Winthrop Harbor to Wilmette Harbor about 3:30 p.m. afternoon and extended it twice that evening. The rescue was completed by around 6 p.m.

About eight boats ended up washing up on Evanston's shoreline, according to Kull.

"They had about 30 students that were out on the water, and that's where many of the boats that were washed up on shore came from," Kull said. "This isn't the first time that people in boats have — due to a quick storm coming through — that they were caught in a bad spot."

Degener, the Coast Guard spokesperson, said he received a report that the majority of the boats were not recovered Tuesday evening and that the sailing school and local marine units would be responsible for coordinating their collection.

Representatives of Sheridan Shore Sailing School did not respond to requests for comment Wednesday.

Tuesday's water rescues come just two days after Coast Guard and fire department personnel helped rescue a man who spent hours clinging to his kayak after it filled with water during the Chicago Air Show.

Later Sunday afternoon, fire department jet skis helped rescue two Northwestern University students who were swept into the lake at Clark Street Beach while trying to retrieve a football.

Related: 3 Men Rescued From Lake Michigan By Evanston Fire Department