Sailing out on the open waters for your first time is always memorable, but it’s not every trip that ends stranded on a seemingly deserted island.

That was the case for Clinton resident Jordan Dow as he departed Sunday, June 9, for his first voyage.

Dow and three of his friends sailed to Everett for a nice dinner. They departed from the Langley Marina around 4:30 p.m. and enjoyed a dinner at Anthony’s restaurant on the Everett waterfront.

On their way back to Langley, Dow’s trip quickly moved from gentle to extreme as a storm hit their path.

“Part of the way back we saw small waves, about halfway the waves became massive and water was spraying all over us,” he said.

Waves he estimated at eight feet hit the sail boat, breaking off the front hatch and motor mount.

“We had our life jackets on, so I wasn’t scared,” he said. “I was more worried about my stomach. I was seasick.”

Dow said the only part that was scary for him was when the engine broke. That was when he decided to call 911 and was told it would be an hour until help could arrive. They drifted to the nearest beach on Hat Island, a privately owned community.

“We were looking for people, but no one was around,” he said. “The whole island was deserted.”

Dow said they stayed on the beach while freezing cold, but tried to stay positive. After an hour, they received a call from the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office. Help was on the way.

Officers explained to Dow that the wind and currents can sometimes create waves of considerable size in the area. The group boarded the boat and safely headed back to Langley, with dinner and a lot of sailing experience under their belts.