More than 60 people, mostly children, have been rescued from the water after dozens of boats capsized in Melbourne.
The group were taking part in a regatta at Port Melbourne when their sailing boats were hit by strong winds in Port Phillip Bay.
“We were just sailing along normally and then all of a sudden it was just like, woah,” one of the children said.
Another young sailor said they were about 20m offshore.
“The boats just blew over,” one said, with another adding it was “freezing.”
Police say while they were wearing lifejackets, they were flung into “rough waters” in the shipping channel between Williamstown and Port Melbourne just after 11.15am.
The waters were closed as Police Air Wing and Water Police officers worked with the Life Saving Victoria rescue chopper, their jet skis and St Kilda coast guard on a ground and water rescue.
All of the sailors were safely rescued.
“Little bit tough and a scary moment for some of the kids but all together they were all safe,” Parent Julian Goussard, said.
