It was on or about Oct 14th 1976. The owner of the Plastics Company I worked for Tim Sullivan invited 4 of us to go fishing. I didn't fish but the guys insisted that I go for the boat ride which I didn't pass up. We were at the mouth of the Potomac River when a storm came on with waves so large we couldn't get back to shore or even close.
We were going up and down the waves but we weren't getting anywhere. A huge wave came over the bow and partially filled the boat with water; the second one finished us off. The boat was now under water and falling apart from the waves beating on it and breaking over our heads over and over.
The only thing above the water was part of the windshield and part of us. We passed out the life preservers and looked and watched for help .The boat went down about 5pm. There were flotation devices in the Boat and Tim had taken a Coast Guard Course and insisted we stay with the Boat. We did for about 7 hours and 7 miles later.
About the time we had given up on the possibility of being saved, along came a Cutter. At first we didn't believe it but it was true, we were saved. Truly the happiest moment of my life. Tim's Mom called the Coast Guard when we didn't return about 5pm ,the same time we went down.
Thank God for Moms and the Guard. We were saved by the Piney Point Station at about 11:30 pm and were back on shore about 1am. See attached articles regarding the stories that were in the paper at the time. I am a Power Boater today, Reside in Annapolis near the Coast Guard and see them leave at all hours and condition to save others.
I love the water and enjoy Boating in the Chesapeake Bay. My rules. #1 check the weather #2. Closed Bow Boats only.#3 Plenty of power. Thanks to the United States Coast Guard and the Boat owner's Mom, I truly would not be alive today with out them.
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