Yellowknife, N.W.T. - The long weekend featured plenty of rain and bad weather for those out and about, but it almost turned out even worse for some boaters on Great Slave Lake.

RCMP and the Civil Air Search and Rescue Association, had two separate incidents to deal with, beginning with an overdue boat.

Sergeant Wes Heron with G Division RCMP said the first case involved a group of boaters which got caught in the bad weather on August 4.

"We located these travellers in Devils Channel, which is just a grow cap area as you turn up into the East Arm there."

CASARA spotted the five adults and three children on board and they ended up spending the night in the open vessel with no protection and inadequate supplies.

The three children and one adult were eventually helicoptered back to Yellowknife the next day and the rest of the party returned home that same day.

Amazingly, the same CASARA crew also spotted a boat which had run aground in the Drybones Bay area.

Those on board had managed to get to shore and they, too, were also picked up by the RCMP in a chopper.

Heron said these are examples of why people should always be prepared when out on the water.

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