I checked my radar app and saw the storm was moving away from our location. So, I didn’t think much of it. About 15 minutes later we saw the black cloud getting closer, felt a cold rush of air and the wind changed directions. The wind at that time was probably 25 to 30 mph. The waves went from gentle to around 2 to 2 1/2 feet in a matter of 30 seconds. I decided to head back to the ramp. We were 3.75 miles away in the opposite corner of the bay. My GPS estimated 36 minutes to reach the Christmas Bay boat ramp at my current speed.
Lives saved
3
Boating
Weather
Wind
How a Sudden Storm in Christmas Bay Nearly Sank Our Boat — and the PLB That Saved Us
N29 02.838°N, W95 13.283°E
Posted on June 24, 2025 by Wesley Clepper
What happened?
The photo above is me, my wife and our son Chance. It was taken an 1 hour and 30 minutes before we activated the beacon! Little did we know that the black cloud in the background was coming straight for us with 40+ mph winds with occasional gust up to 50 mph according the local weather report afterwards later that day.
I looked at the weather report for the morning of Sat. June 14 , 2025 and there was just small spotted showers moving away from us. The chance of rain was only 20-30%. Around 8 a.m., my wife, 21-month-old son, and I went inshore fishing in Christmas Bay near Freeport. It was my sons first time to go in the boat with me in saltwater. My son Chance loves the water, so I took them to a sandy, beach-like spot in Christmas Bay where he could play. We were there at my beach spot in the bay for approx. 30 minutes when a dark black cloud started forming a few miles east of us.
After leaving the beach spot, the wind picked up even more—blowing 35 to 40 mph, straight into us. We were getting beat by 3 to 3 1/2 feet waves at that point. I knew we were not going to make it to the ramp at that point. So I turned the nose of my boat NNW and started heading towards land that I could still see. Once I turned my boat NNW the waves were hitting the boat side ways.
It was raining and blowing so hard that when I turned away from the wind, it blew my clear prescription glasses off my face. Once we were about 40 feet from land on the northwest shore of Christmas Bay, I got into the 1-foot-deep water with my two anchors. I tried to keep the boat slightly off the shore, knowing the waves would push and ground it if I let go. After fighting the waves for 15 minutes while standing on the anchors, I was exhausted. I told my wife I couldn’t hold the boat any longer.
I trimmed the motor down and let it dig in the mud to help keep us in one spot. The rain was blowing so hard that it was stinging my face. The boat finally washed up on the land and walls of water kept crashing over the boat until it finally sunk. I knew we were not going to die because we reached the safety of land. I was going to call for help on my cell phone, but folks, wind, rain and touch screen cell phones don’t mix My wife insisted that we needed help due to having a 21 month old with us and to let someone know where we are and about our situation. That’s when I activated my PLB! About 3–4 minutes after activating the beacon, I got a call from U.S. Coast Guard Sector 8 out of New Orleans, LA. I answered and was barely able to explain that we were sunk and grounded, but safe on land—not in a life-threatening situation. Then the call dropped.
They called back and said they’d wait for the weather to calm before deciding on a boat or helicopter rescue. Shortly after, the Brazoria County Sheriff’s Office called and said they were contacting the Gulf Coast Rescue Squad. The Rescue Squad said they were preparing to head to the ramp. At that point, I knew three agencies were aware of our situation.
After being sunk for an hour and a half, the wind and rain began to ease up. I was able to pump the water out of my boat, but it was still completely grounded. The Coast Guard helicopter arrived on scene at 11:40 a.m. At the same time, the Coast Guard in New Orleans called to ask if we wanted to leave with the helicopter. I told them the Rescue Squad was on the way and, if I got ungrounded, I could make it back to the ramp.
The helicopter left and asked me to update them every 30 minutes. Less than a minute later, a good Samaritan vessel with two young men walked across the land separating the Intracoastal Canal and Christmas Bay. They had seen the helicopter and came to check on what was happening. My wife, the two men, and I tried to push the boat back into the water, but it barely moved. They returned to their boat and came around the bay to where I was. Using my anchor rope, they pulled my boat off the land and back into the water.
And as they were in the process of pulling me off the land, I just so happened and looked down in the mud and saw my glasses that blew off my face an hour before!!! That was truly a miracle in itself. They followed me back to the Christmas bay boat ramp and we exchanged names and information. I offered them money but they would not accept.
Once I loaded my boat on the trailer, I will never forget how my son looked up at me with his innocent smile. I knelt down and got eye level with him gave him a hug and kissed my wife and I almost busted out in tears! We were finally safe, and it was over!
Then, 2 hours after we left the ramp, my childhood friend that I haven’t talked to in a while messaged me and said that his son and his son’s friend were the ones that helped us! What a small world?!! If it wasn’t for the coast guard helicopter the 2 young men would have never seen us and stopped.
Looking back on the morning of Sat, June 14, 2025, I am almost certain that had I would have continued on towards the ramp and not turned into land when we did. We would have sunk in the middle of Christmas Bay. The waves were like walls of water 3 to 3 1/2 feet high crashing every 3-4 seconds. I really don’t think even with life jackets on that we would have made it in those conditions. No doubt, God spared me and my family. I am much closer to my family now than I was before.
Wesley C.
Words of wisdom
My friend, I don’t care what body of water your on, no matter if its the ocean, an inshore bay or a freshwater lake, or off-roading or hiking or whatever outdoor adventure suits you, I cannot stress to you enough how important it is to carry a PLB with you!! I never thought I would need a PLB inshore fishing as long as I had my cell but keep in mind, if its pouring down raining and the wind is blowing, your touch screen cell phone is basically non functional and worthless!! I found this out the hard way. Even though we did have cell signal where we sunk, my phone was constantly dropping calls with the US coast guard, and the Brazoria County sheriffs office due to water immersion from heavy rain. I didn’t realize this until we were in the situation! Also, once my boat sunk, I purposely killed the power with the Perko switches on my boat. I was concerned that the saltwater could short out my electrical system and could start a potential fire. So that means no VHF radio either! Only thing left that was a guarantee was the beacon! Another thing I want to stress to the one who’s reading this to NOT forget to bring with you some sort of rain suit or jacket or blanket to keep the rain off your bare skin. Because even in summer time in June, the rain it gets very cold and I was shivering cold while being rained on!
Thank you note
I want to thank the ACR team for building a great life saving product! The beacon worked perfectly. I’ve had my ACR Aqua link View for a total of 11 years. I had the batteries replaced in it back in Oct of 2024 before I went overseas to the Philippines. No matter where I go from offshore, inshore, off-roading in the mountains or desert or overseas, I know I have a great life saving product on my side!
Rescue location
N29 02.838 W95 13.283
Rescue team
Coast Guard
