A gusty Sunday

Danette Goulet

At least one sailboat capsized yesterday as winds were reported to reach

up to 35 knots off Newport Beach.

A rented 18-foot sailboat capsized at about 2:30 p.m. due to strong winds

, said Sgt. Ron Peoples of the Harbor Patrol. Four people were thrown

into the water but were unhurt, he said.

“The small craft warners are up and we’re finding out what kind of

sailors we have out here,” Peoples said.

Inexperienced sailers often drop their sails when they should keep them

up to ride out the swells, Peoples said.

“When they drop the sails, they become a bobbing cork on the swells,” he

said.

The National Weather Service has been watching the situation.

“There’s been a small craft advisory. That happens whenever there are

winds over 25 knots for any significant amount of time,” said Miguel

Miller, forecaster for the National Weather Service.

Winds out of the northwest were reported as high as 35 knots in Newport

Beach and 30 knots in Huntington Beach, Miller said.

Strong winds were expected overnight Sunday, sweeping through the

foothills, he said.

An small craft advisory may still be in effect Monday afternoon, Miller

said.