Pattaya marine rescue officials revealed the moments they braved waves and wind to assist a "sailor" after a storm caused a boat to capsize in the sea off Jomtien Beach, Chonburi. They also urged boat operators and users to check weather conditions and listen to warnings from the Marine Department.
At 14:00 on 23 August 2026, the Pattaya Marine Disaster Prevention Radio Center (marine rescue) received a report of a capsized sailboat in the sea near Jomtien Beach, Nong Prue Subdistrict, Bang Lamung District, Chonburi Province. A sailor was still afloat in the sea. Upon receiving the report, two rescue boats were immediately dispatched to provide assistance.
While the marine rescue team was assisting the capsized sailboat, heavy rain and strong sea waves occurred. The rescue team had to brave the storm to carry out the rescue operation.
Initially, the capsized sailboat was identified as a catamaran-style sailboat (two parallel hulls), overturned with its hull pointing upward about 200 meters from shore. A male foreign sailor was floating, holding onto the boat. The rescue team helped him aboard the rescue boat, then salvaged the sailboat and towed it back to shore. The sailor was uninjured, and the sailboat suffered only minor damage.
Mr. Peeraphong Rattanaliem, a Pattaya marine rescue officer, revealed that after receiving the call, they promptly deployed personnel and rescue boats to assist. He admitted that heavy rain and strong winds were present during the rescue, but the operation was successful. The athlete was safe, and the sailboat was successfully towed back to shore.
He also warned boat operators and water sport athletes to check weather conditions and heed warnings from the Marine Department, as the upper Gulf of Thailand is currently covered by a monsoon. Similar incidents occurred 2-3 days ago, and today’s event was a repeat of that pattern.
