Clayton N Y at a large island lunch get together. Way off clouds on a sunny day. Some boats decide to go the 3 miles into the approaching weather. Me to with 6 old 200# seniors. 1 mile back the wind really goes up. Doing 4 to 5' waves with white caps. Can not turn around to go back. Risk of wave filling the boat too great. Move a couple of people around to get the bow way up and keep splitting the waves. All 6 of us are very experienced boaters. Not a word was spoken while driving in the dangerous conditions. We docked. Unloaded gear and silently went to our cars. I was having finger cramps from being so afraid of drowning all of us. No one had ever mentioned handing out and wearing Life Jackets. Everyone had their head down for wind protection in the bow rider.
Luck beats skill every time.