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My uncle, Arnold, was in the area when the tsunami hit. Here's an email he sent from his sailboat. English is not his first language.
Jurgen


7d 36m N

98d 22m E

Another great anchorage’s, beautiful long horseshoe bay, with a sandy beach and resort at the tip. I arrived the night before and anchored in 37 foot of water with 150 foot of chain out. By 8:30 a.m. I had finished my second cup of coffee but did not make breakfast as I was planning to spend the day ashore. With the boarding latter over and snorkel gear in hand I was going to check the anchor. The water was rushing by the boat at great speed, so I decided to wait for the tide to come in. I happened to look at the beach, the water had already risen way above the beach and my dept gouge was reading over 50 ft. Realizing this was no ordinarry incoming tide I turned my motor on. The next thing I noticed that the beach and all its contend was gone chairs, umbrellas including the sand and my dept gauge was reading 8 ft. At this point I still had no idea as to what was happening, except that it was not normal. Than the water was coming in again but at greater speed.

It was time to leave but there was a boat behind me with a crew of 5 and a Danish boat to the left with a crew of 6 and 4 kids, I was by myself with a grading angle at least I hoped there was. The boat behind me was already taking in the anchor. It took 3 pulling with one of the girls at the helm steering the boat forward taking up the slack. I went to take in my anchor with the windlass. I still had 50 ft. out by the time they had their anchor up and getting out of the anchorage. Had no idea where I got strength from but I pulled the last 50 ft by hand with no one at the helm to motor the boat forward .I was pulling E-2’s eleven ton against an out coming tide. With the anchor just above the water I ran back to the helm to steer out. By the time I got there the boat had already turned around. Full throttle forward and E-2 was on its way out, the only problem the water had dropped back down to 8 ft. and I could see the reef. The Danish boat had a crewmember in the water; he went for a swim before all this happened. They were trying to get him back on board without much success, as the boat was swinging violently and they were much closer to the beach. With the engine running they almost hid him. He was trying to get them to stop the engine, as the prop would cut him to peaces. He was still in the water when I cleared the bay. Halve an hour later I saw them come out of the bay with him aboard I am sure. I do not thing those Vikings would leave one of there own behind to save the ship.

I did not know until I got to ****et nine miles away that an earthquake in Indonesia had caused a title wave. Looking back I have no idea how my anchor held or how I was able to get it up at the last minute. The what ifs are to numerous to mention and any one of them would have bin disastrous to E -II