The current issue of PILOT, the AOPA magazine has a report on the accident at the seaplane base, couple of years ago. Its sad to read, I didn't know any of the people, I have a friend related to the pilot.
This report is frankly written and makes it clear that some seaplanes are especially difficult taking off downwind in choppy conditions. I was at the base the next morning. I assume they could not go into the wind or would not clear the shore?