Yesterday, July 29th at approximately 8pm the RCMP in Hopedale received a call that four adults left Hopedale in two speedboats heading to Natuashish.
Shortly after leaving, the occupants of both boats lost sight of each other in heavy fog.
The lone occupant of one of the boats managed to return to Hopedale and notify the Hopedale RCMP.
Search and Rescue Teams from Hopedale and Natuashish both began a search for the second boat immediately, but search efforts were hampered due to think fog along the coast.
The Joint Rescue Control Centre was contacted and they put out a notification to all boats in the area.
Early this morning at approximately 6:30 am, the MV Northern Ranger spotted the boaters and the boaters then followed the Ranger back to Hopedale.
All occupants of the boat made it back to Hopedale safe and sound.
The RCMP would like to thank the Search & Rescue Teams from Hopedale and Natuashish, along with JRCC and the crew members of the Northern Ranger for their assistance during this search.
The RCMP would also like to remind boaters to check the weather before embarking on any journey to ensure the weather is suitable for travel.
It is also advisable that all persons in a boat wear an approved PFD (Personal Flotation Device), pack for the weather and carry emergency flares, a GPS or S.P.O.T Device, take extra food and gasoline and notify a friend or family member of you planned route of travel and the estimated time of arrival at your destination.