Manhasset Girls’ rowing team knocked into water by passing boat, rescued

Glen Cove Harbor Patrol officers plucked nine members of Manhasset High School’s girls’ rowing team out of Hempstead Harbor Wednesday evening after a passing power boat upended their vessel and spilled the crew into the water about 200 yards from shore, officials said.

“A boat with no lights and traveling at a high rate of speed had gone past them, causing that boat to flip, which resulted in nine girls in the water,” said Port Washington Fire Department Chief Brain Waterson.

None of the girls were injured in the 6:30 p.m. incident, said Waterson, who added they were shaken up, but all declined medical attention and were released to their parents.

“They ended up having to swim about 150 yards before being picked up,” Waterson said. The girls swam to the rescue boat and to another one that was operated by a coach for the team. “Once they warmed up and dried off, they were OK.”

The coach’s boat was traveling alongside the team’s vessel when waves from a speeding power boat whizzing by in the dark — perhaps unaware that the team was present — lifted the slim boat.

“It’s that dark out there,” Waterson said.