Eleven people and four dogs were rescued Saturday from a sinking boat on Lake Tahoe.

When rescue personnel got to the stranded boat a quarter mile off shore between Regan and El Dorado beaches in South Lake Tahoe they found a 21-foot open bow boat taking on water with seven people and four dogs on board, with four people floating away from the vessel.

They had been stranded for 45 minutes to an hour with strong northerly winds gusting to 35mph and swells of 3 to 4 feet.

The Coast Guard had to abandon its response because of experiencing 8-foot swells responding from Tahoe City.

Three medic units transported seven of the occupants to Barton Memorial Hospital for precautions.

During the rescue, word came in of another disabled boat adrift near the Tahoe Keys. Tahoe Douglas Marine 4 stabilized that situation and towed the boat into shore.

“This is a very graphic reminder how unforgiving the combination of the sudden change in weather and the roughness of the lake can combine to form a very potentially dangerous situation,” South Lake Tahoe fire officials said in a press statement. “Knowledge of the weather conditions, adequate communications and all safety equipment (USCG approved life Jackets) are critical for safe operation on Lake Tahoe.”

Responding to the Saturday afternoon incident were South Lake Tahoe Engine 3, Engine 2, Medic 3, Battalion 3, Medic 1, Marine 17, Tahoe Douglas Marine 4, Tahoe Douglas Battalion 1, Tahoe Douglas medic 4 and one Department Reserve from the South Lake Tahoe Fire Department, as well as, units from South Lake Tahoe PD, and the US Coast Guard from Tahoe City.