ONLY ON 7: Windy weather strands boaters in North Bay waters

MILL VALLEY, Calif. (KGO) -- Gusty winds blew into the North Bay, toppling trees, knocking out power and stranding plenty of boaters on the bay.

The U.S. Coast Guard was working into the night on Richardson Bay, responding to distress calls from stranded sailors.

The Coast Guard rescued Shawn Keeton and towed her sailboat to dock after high winds broke the anchor line, sending her adrift for hours and capsizing her dingy.

"We sat, waited and waited, tried to fasten sails, tarp came lose, heading right for the Golden Gate," Keeton said.

Keeton couldn't call authorities, her radio wasn't working. So she said she yelled to get help.

High winds brought down a 50-foot tree in Mill Valley, forcing the closure of East Blithedale Ave. Just before the afternoon commute, the tree took out a power line, leaving 9,000 residents in the dark.

"We've seen high winds. The gusty, windy weather is certainly having an impact on our power lines, mostly with vegetation coming into contact with them," PG&E spokesperson Brittany McKannay said.

As crews worked to clear the tree, Lorraine Heitchue and husband her Roger were in search of ways to light their home without electricity.

Lorraine told ABC7 News they've got a "real nice flash light, lots of LEDs and candles."

Hours later, power was restored to most of Mill Valley.