ON 6/04/2009 at about 20:30 hours the victims and contacts met up at the Taylor Street dock and cast off in V#1 Operator;s 17' sailboat (make unknown).  they motored south to Chuckanut Island.  All agreed that alcohol was consumed but only a little.  At about 20:30 hours (occupant#2 noticed the time on her cell phone) they cast off from Chuckanut Island with the intention to sail back to Bellingham.  They motored away from the Island and set sail with V#1 Operator was at the back operating the tiller.  There was little or no wind on the trip down but now they were going to sail back.  They were not aware of the weather they were about to encounter.  They knew there were life jackets on board but did not think them necessary.  (occupant#4).  About 10 miinutes into the trip a wind shift caused to sail to transfer sides and their effort to stabilize the boat the boat capsized.  Occupant2 had a type IV throwable pfd but lost it in her efforts to climb up on the overturned boat.  subject made efforts to right the boat but the centerboard was not or could not lock in the down position to assist in this effort.  occupant3 repeatedly dove under the boat in the effort to get his dog that was in the cuddy.  Also in the cuddy were the (at least three) life jackets.  About one hour passed.  They thought that the boat was going to sink.  subject said that they had about a 20 minutes to survive in the water and suggested taht they should swim for it.  The four left the boat to swim to shore.  By occupant4’s report they were about 600' off teh shore.  Occupant2 said she is a strong swimmer and outdistanced the others.  About 10 minutes into her swim she heard subject yell for help.  She did not turn back.  She did not see or hear from anyone again.  She swam for about 20 minutes and landed on the west side of Clark POint.  occupant does not remember how long she swam.  Occupant4 and opreator stayed with the overturned boat.  About 10-15 minutes after Operator, two occuapnts and Occupant2 left occupant2 hear yelling again and againabout 20 minutes later, hear more yelling.  Occupant2 thought everyone made it to shore.  the boat drifted for about one hour and a half.  It drifted north and east in the wind and sea.  When it was within about 30 yds off the shore it shifted and started drifting away.  At that time two people lef tthe boat and swam to the shore.
Bellingham Bay                