On Monday afternoon, 17 August 2026, a sailor found himself in distress between the East Frisian islands of Langeoog and Spiekeroog after his recreational catamaran capsized. A German Navy search and rescue helicopter was able to pick him up north of the islands using its winch and bring him to Langeoog unharmed. The damaged catamaran was subsequently towed to Neuharlingersiel. A fishing boat from Neuharlingersiel also took part in the search for the shipwrecked man. “Gorch Fock”, who was on a guest tour at the time of the operation.
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Emergency call, search and rescue within 20 minutes
With north-westerly winds of force 4, gusting to force 5 on the Beaufort scale, and choppy seas with wave heights of around one and a half metres, the sailing catamaran capsized in the Seegatt. According to the Nordwestzeitung (NWZ), the victim was a 69-year-old man from Dachau in Bavaria, who sails regularly on the North Sea. His catamaran is reported to have capsized whilst tacking and to have suffered a broken mast.
At around 4.10 pm, the sailor himself alerted the rescue coordination centre in Wittmund, East Frisia, which then involved the DGzRS Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre. The rescue boats “Courage” from Neuharlingersiel and “Secretarius” from Langeoog were immediately dispatched. At the same time, the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre alerted a search and rescue helicopter (SAR helicopter) of the ‘Sea Lion’ type operated by the Naval Air Force. At that time, he was stationed at the SAR base on Heligoland.
By around 4.30 pm – a good 20 minutes after the emergency call – the SAR helicopter located the shipwrecked man north of the islands. The naval aircrew hoisted him on board using the ship’s winch. According to the DGzRS, the man was wearing a thermal suit and was uninjured. The helicopter took him to Langeoog, where it had taken off from.
Lifeboat right-side-ups catamaran – Spiekeroog Volunteer Fire Brigade lends a hand with jet skis
Less than ten minutes after the rescue helicopter, the sea rescue boat “Courage” arrived at the scene of the accident. The sailing catamaran was lying capsized in the water, its mast broken. Four members of the Spiekeroog Volunteer Fire Brigade also made their way to the scene on two jet skis. They helped the crew of the rescue boat to right the catamaran. The “Courage” then took the boat in tow and brought it to Neuharlingersiel.
The fishing vessel ‘Gorch Fock’ is also taking part in the search
As the exact location of the casualty was initially unknown, the fishing cutter “Gorch Fock” from Neuharlingersiel also joined the search. It was in the area at the time, taking passengers on a sightseeing trip. The cutter and its owners, the Jacobs family, have had deep roots in the area between Langeoog and Spiekeroog for generations. The cutter regularly undertakes sightseeing trips to the seal colonies at the eastern end of Langeoog. During these trips, it also passes through the Seegatt, where the catamaran sailor found himself in distress.
What sea rescue services recommend for survival in cold water
On a sailing catamaran, the sailor is constantly exposed to the cold caused by wind, spray and rain. Their cold-weather suit is therefore essential even whilst sailing. In the event of the boat capsizing and the sailor subsequently going overboard, the suit is also likely to have played a significant part in ensuring that the sailor could be rescued unharmed.
On the page "Survival strategies if you fall into the water"" Dr Jens Kohfahl, a specialist in general and emergency medicine and a volunteer sea rescue doctor with the DGzRS in Cuxhaven, explains the reasons to the DGzRS. The doctor describes how an unexpected fall into cold water immediately triggers an uncontrollable cold shock reaction: breathing control fails, the pulse rises dangerously, and older people are at risk of a heart attack or stroke. After just a short time, so-called ‘swimming failure’ sets in – the muscles in the limbs become chilled and fail. Kohfahl’s key recommendation is therefore: always wear a well-fitting lifejacket secured with a crotch strap – combined with a cold-weather suit as an ‘underlay’ beneath your oilskins. This combination significantly slows down the rate of hypothermia and buys the rescuers valuable time. For the 69-year-old sailor, who was adrift in choppy waters between Langeoog and Spiekeroog after his boat capsized, this very equipment could have saved his life.
Ursula Meer
Redakteurin Panorama und Reise