Three people are alive tonight after their 58-foot fishing boat capsized in the Hood Canal near Foul Weather Bluff, forcing them to abandon ship and take refuge onboard their small skiff.
The Coast Guard received a call from a nearby pleasure craft shortly after the fishing vessel Martle had capsized.
The Kodiak, Ala. based Coast Guard Cutter Alex Haley, operating in the area, was diverted to the scene and an HH-65 Dolphin helicopter from Air Station Port Angeles was launched to the scene.
A Coast Guard patrol boat operating in the area was dispatched and the Alex Haley resumed its original course. A rescue boat from North Kitsap Fire and Rescue also launched to the scene.
The master of the vessel, Ed Einarson of Blaine, Wash. and his two crewmembers clambered aboard their skiff after their boat capsized.
The boat was struck on its side by several waves prior to capsizing.
The pleasure craft remained on scene until the Coast Guard patrol boat arrived and took the crew of the Martle aboard. The crew was then transferred back to shore.
Weather conditions at the time of the accident were winds of 30-to-40 miles per hour and sea conditions of 4-to-6 feet.