We were at the beach on the Idaho side when a storm hit and waves picked up. The boat just came back to the beach after taking some kids surfing, and my father in law left the Boat anchored just off shore in waist deep water with my brother in law. Yesterday had a similar shift in weather and we decided we had better get back to the marina ASAP (Utah side). So I grab my sandals and phone and start wading out to the boat with my father in law to help get the trailer, etc. Kids go with mom back to the cabin.

Well we just keep walking and walking and we’re up to our chest now and it seems that the boat it getting further away. The waves and wind were just dragging the anchored boat away from us faster than we could get to it. It’s also pulling us in further, so we can’t touch anymore and I’m trying to stay afloat and swim with my phone in the air in one hand (waterproof, but cracked). I eventually had to put it in my pocket and swim two handed just to stay afloat. Thankfully at this point my brother in law realized we were screwed and jumped in to start working to get the anchor untied, but the boat was rocking so hard it was pretty sketchy and really difficult. My father in law always makes crazy, overdone knots, and it was tied underneath the bough where he couldn’t reach it from inside the boat. The fear was if he just turned on the boat and tried to drive to us that he would go over the rope and get it caught in the shaft or prop, then we are really in trouble.

At that point we decide to try to swim back to where we can touch, but that’s into the wind. Took me several minutes of full on swimming just to get to where I could jump with the waves and touch as they roll past.

Eventually he got the anchor untied after several minutes and came to pick us up, then we went back to get the anchor. It was probably the scariest moment of my life, and I think drowning is an absolutely terrible way to go. I wouldn’t say I ever thought I would drown, but the idea would flash into my mind every minute or so. Swallowing water, out of breath, getting dizzy from the swells, and starting to get muscle fatigue… just an absolutely miserable experience.

By the time we started back toward the marina, it took a lot of concentration not to puke my guts out from the experience along with the sea sickness from the swells.

I read just now that apparently a 2022 Malibu capsized yesterday in similar water.. all in all we feel fortunate, but learned a lot of lessons. On the way home we all just kinda looked at each other like… WOW that really got out of hand fast!