On 5/26/12 at approximately 1600 hours. I received a call concerning a sailboat accident with no injuries.  The parties involved were at the Pensacola Yatch Club in Bayou Chico.   

I arrived on scene at approximately 1723 hours.  I observed both sail boats tied up in their mooring spots at the Pensacola Yatch Club.  I spoke with the 2 parties involved got sworn written statements concerning the events that had transpired.  I also observed/ assessed the damage incurred.

Here is the legend/details the vessels involved and respective operators.

Vessel 1 (V1) FL0016CJ 1974 Newport 27 foot sail boat with a aux power out board motor. 
Damage: NONE

Vessel 2 (V2) LA2313FU 52 foot Island Packet sail boat with aux inboard diesel motor. Coast Guard Documented Vessel 1171016 (Judith) out of Louisiana.  
Damage: Port side teak wood and railing approx $10-15k

According to the witness statements, damage to vessel, and an investigation I came to the following conclusion.

V1 was traveling North West with sails up in the narrow channel entering Bayou Chico.  V2 was traveling under engine power and sails down behind and to the left of  V1 (approx 60-100 yards away). 

The operator of V1 turned on his aux engine and had it at idle and while still in the channel told his wife to take sails down.  Since the wife of V1 operator could not get the sails down the operator of V1 turned port side(left) to reposition the vessel in order to make it easier to take down sails.  This action caused V1 to turn across the bow (front) of the path of V2.    A gust of wind caught V1 causing it to do a counter clock wise 180 deg. turn.  V1 operator observed that his vessel was in a collision path with V2 and tried to use the aux motor to power out of the turn but the motor stalled out. 

V2 operator had observed V1 do the erratic counter clockwise move and attempted to avoid a collision by turning right (opposite the direction of V1) 

V1 one never corrected its heading and continued coming around until it struck V2 in a T bone fashion.

Prior to the collision V2 occupants verbally stated that they observed  that V1 operator was not behind the helm (wheel) and that he was instead trying to get the sails down.
  
V1 operator, on the day of accident stated that he had left the wheel to take sails down and that his wife then resumed control of the wheel.

V1 operator and wife then stated on a follow up date (6/20/12) that he had never left the helm and that the wife had been trying to take sails down the whole time. V1 operator's wife provided a sworn statement attesting to this. 

The actions of V1 were consistent with a vessel with no one behind the wheel. 

V1 operator stated that he tried to get his vessel back under control (by using his aux motor) once he realized the collision course.  The motor stalled out and V1 struck V2 port center.  Both vessel were out of the channel after the collision. After the vessels separated they got back in the channel and continued to Pensacola Yatch Club.  

Damage was only sustained by V2. Damage consisted of a section of metal railing and teak wood side molding (see attached pictures) 
 
V1 operator violated the following navigation rules resulting in a collision.  : 

Rule 5 PROPER LOOKOUT. Every vessel shall at all times maintain a proper look out by sight and hearing as well as by all available means appropriate in the prevailing circumstances and  conditions so as to make a full appraisal of the situation and of the risk of collision. 

V1 operator violated rule 5  by not maintaining a proper look out for vessel around him.  Therefore he turned left across the bow V2, V1 operator stated that he did not notice V2 till after he had crossed left. He then stated he thought he had enough room for his maneuvers.

Rule 7(a):RISK OF COLLISION.  Every vessel shall use all available means a
PENSACOLA                     