A 70 year old fella had "fuel problems" in a 26 foot boat last Thursday a few miles south of Coste Island in Douglas Channel on BC's north coast. He called the Coast Guard once (don't know if it was a Pan Pan or Mayday) in the late afternoon, then drifted downwind until the boat went awash in steep 6 foot seas. (Shorelines are steep, so rebounding waves from several directions close to shore would have made things heinous). He managed to jump into the water and get to Loretta Island, and spent the next 24 hours waiting for rescue. Temperature that night was -13C (9F) with winds up to 70km/hr, or about 40 knots. That's all the scuttlebutt I've heard so far.
Here's the Canadian Press story;
Air Force, coast guard rescue stranded boater from remote B.C. channel - B.C. - Times Colonist
Love how they call Loretta Island remote, as it's only 30 km from Kitimat. Guess it is remote when the Coast Gaurd has to fly 550 km just to start their search.
The local volunteer rescue squad reponded but got there after dark, and they didn't know if he drifted down Douglas Channel or down towards Devastation Channel.
Think I'll hug our 9.9hp kicker next time I go down to the boat, just for good luck / good Karma...