RedactedNarrative: OPERATOR HAD LAUNCHED ROWING VESSEL FROM SHORELINE. OPERATOR HAD UNDERESTIMATED WEATHER CONDITION'S AND HAD ALSO PLACED A HEAVY MARINE BATTERY IN THE BOW AREA OF THE VESSEL, CAUSING THE BOW OF THE VESSEL TO SIT LOWER IN THE WATER THAN USUAL, REDUCING FREEBOARD IN THE BOW. AS OPERATOR ROWED FROM SHORELINE HEAVY WIND PUSHED HIM FURTHER SOUTH WHILE ALSO PUTTING THE VESSEL BOW INTO ONCOMING WAVES AND CHOPPY WATER. WATER BEGAN TO ENTER THE VESSEL OVER THE BOW AND THE VESSEL BECAME SWAMPED BEFORE SINKING ENTIRELY. OPERATOR WAS SEATED INSIDE OF THE VESSEL AS THE VESSEL SANK AND ENTERED THE WATER AFTER THE VESSEL BECAME COMPLETELY SUBMERGED. 
  
  OPERATOR ENTERED THE WATER WITHOUT A LIFE PRESERVER AND ESTIMATED TO BE IN THE WATER FOR APPROXIMATELY FIFTEEN MINUTES. OPERATOR SWAM TOWARDS A MOORING AND CLUNG TO MOORING LINE UNTIL RESCUED BY CITY OF PORTLAND FIRE DEPARTMENT AND OTHER PASSING RECREATIONAL BOATER.