RedactedNarrative: At approximately 1600 hours (MST), OPERATOR reports he was piloting vessel #1 as he and his passengers were returning to Face Canyon on Lake Powell (located at approximately buoy 24A) from Dangling Rope Marina (located at buoy 42). 
  
  The weather had worsened during the voyage down lake, with west and southwest winds driving waves up to 2' and more in height. As the vessel rounded Gooseneck Point and lined up to enter Face Canyon, the waves had built to an extent that one broke over the open bow. A second and third wave followed, also breaking over the bow. The vessel at this point had taken on considerable water and it's freeboard had become severely limited. When a fourth wave broke over the bow, the vessel's gunnels sank to the level of the water and Operator ordered the vessel abandoned. The vessel sank just below the water. 
  
  At this point all 10 passengers, including OPERATOR, had taken to the water. OPERATOR had retrieved several sky flares from the vessel before it sank and fired several of these into the air. A party aboard a houseboat beached at the mouth of Face Canyon saw the flares, launched their ski boat, retrieved all 10 passengers from the water, and transported them to the houseboat occupied by OPERATOR, et al, located toward the back of Face Canyon.
  
  At approximately 1745 hours I rendezvoused with another NPS vessel at the mouth of Face Canyon and directed them to locate vessel #1, move it to the nearest beech, and secure it there for later salvage. This completed at approximately 1830 hours. At approximately 1800 hours (MST), I arrived at OPERATOR'S houseboat as OPERATOR and his passengers were disembarking from the Good Samaritan's vessel. I interviewed Operator and cleared the scene at approximately 1830 hours.
  
  