Speedy manoeuvres sink cigar boat in Okanagan Lake, raise possibility of leak

KELOWNA, B.C. – Transport Canada will have to send a recovery crew to Okanagan Lake, off West Kelowna, B.C., to raise a sunken cigar boat.

The nearly 10-metre speedboat lies in just over 20 metres of water and must be retrieved without causing an oil or gas leak.

It went down late Sunday evening as the operator raced the Alberta-registered vessel through some high-speed manoeuvres about 300 metres offshore.

RCMP Const. Steve Holmes says the boat hit its own wake and swells while doing doughnuts, took on water and sank within minutes.

Four people, three men and woman, all in their 30s and 40s, were rescued by a passing jet ski and were unhurt, but Holmes says no life jackets were aboard and the outcome could have been much different.

He says no charges have yet been laid and the incident demonstrates the fine line between a fun activity and one that could be deadly. (Kelowna Courier)