A sailboat overturned off the coast in Union Beach Monday morning, forcing a man aboard to swim to safety.

A resident, who was looking out his window while washing his dishes, spotted the boat as it was in the process of overturning and called the police.

Shawn Gilkison of the Union Beach Police Department says when first responders arrived, the man who was on board was already safely on shore.

“He was the only person in the boat, but he made it in safely,” Gilkison said.

The sailor swam about a quarter-mile in very cold, rough water. He is expected to be OK. The owner of the boat made arrangements Monday afternoon to have the boat removed from the water. There is no word on if the boat was damaged.