The owner/operator was sailing on his 29 ft. aux sailboat on the Strait of Juan De Fuca when he was caught by an unexpected gale wind.  He attempted to return to the mooring in Barlow Bay when one of his lines went adrift and wrapped around a propeller shaft making the engine inoperable.  Operator then attempted to to get to the harbor under sail.  He nearly made it but on his final approach a wind shift caused the mainsail to jib and put the vessel on a lee shore.  There was no time or ability to recover and the vessel went into a small cove between the cliffs and grounded.

There were no injuries to report only damages.
Lopez Island                  