On August 18, 2012, I was called out to investigate a drowning incident that occurred on Lake Lanier, shortly after midnight on August 18th.  I called the operator of the sailboat, and met him at approximately 14:23 hours at the Shady Grove Campground boat ramp.  

Operator said a passenger on his boat had jumped off the sailboat while it was under sail at around midnight and either swam off or possibly drowned.  Operator said Victim had been drinking.   Operator said Victim had pulled his clothes off and jumped over the rail into the water.  Operator said that it would have been a 300-400 yard swim from where they were to the shore.  Operator said the boat was illuminated, so he thought Victim would come back to the vessel.  Operator said he could not hear Victim anymore.  He said they hollered for Victim and circled back to try to find Victim, but did not find him.  Operator said he called 911 at approximately 0020 hours.

Operator said the party of four had left the campground around 9:00 pm.  Operator said Victim jumped in around midnight or shortly after.  I asked Operator what Victim was drinking.  Operator said he didn't really know, maybe Victim had a beer or two.  Operator said Victim was helping with the sails and didn't think that Victim was drunk.  I asked Operator where Victim was sitting in the vessel.  He said Victim was sitting on the starboard side, up against the transom.  He said the two other occupants were located inside the cabin and he was near the stern.

I took eight photographs of the sailboat

14:37hrs Vid mic recording

On September 3, 2012, I spoke with Operator on the phone to get some information for the boating incident report involving Victim.  I asked Operator if he had insurance on his sailboat.  Operator said that he did not have insurance for his boat. 
I told him that I thought it was odd for a man to jump in the water to urinate when it was more common for a man to stand near the edge of the boat and urinate.  Operator said Victim dove over the rail and swam away from the boat.  I asked him to explain what happened next and he said he turned down wind and came back around to the original location to find Victim.  There was a conversation between Victim and other occupant and, Operator said “I can't see you” to Victim.  A throw cushion was offered but not needed by Victim.  The wind picked up again, causing Operator to lose contact with Victim.  Operator said he thought for a second about getting in the water to search for Victim, but he knew the women on the vessel didn't know how to operate the boat, so he couldn't go in after Victim.
I asked Operator if he would draw a diagram of his vessel position on the lake and add direction of travel with a gibe maneuver, which was described as a maneuver that allowed the vessel to return to the original position, where Victim was last seen.    He said he would e-mail it to me.   

RFC 
17:30hrs 09/03/12
FLOWERY BRANCH                