On 11/18/2023 at approximately 9:30am, operator was operating his 19ft sundance open motorboat in the new river inlet.  On board with him were two others.  They had been fishing all morning near the jacksonville landing boat ramp.  Then decided to go out into the inlet to do more fishing.  It was clear and sunny but winds were reaching up to 15mph and the waves were estimated to be 4' to 5' high.  

As operator steered his vessel around the third channel marker in the inlet, a wave came over the bow of the boat and the boat took on water.  The water settled in the stern of the boat.  Seeing this operator attempted to turn the boat around and as he did so another wave came over the starboard side of the boat and flipped the boat over, causing it to capsize.  

When the vessel capsized 2 of the individuals were trapped underneath the boat briefly but managed to swim out.  All three climbed on top of the capsized boat and one person called 911.  They were rescued by north topsail fire department and the boat was towed by sea tow back to jacksonville landing.  When the boat capsized and flipped over, the t-top of the boat was ripped off and a majority of the boat's contents were lost in the water including but not limited to, fishing poles, life jackets, and a firearm owned by operator.  Everyone was checked out by ems and needed no further medical attention. This accident was caused by hazardous weather conditions and the operator's inattention to the small craft advisory in effect that day.

********end of report********

ICW
NORTH TOPSAIL                 