On August 19, 2013 at approximately 1750hrs, I, Officer was on land patrol when I was dispatched to a boating accident at Jupiter Yacht Club involving two vessels with no injured parties.  I responded and arrived at 1800 hrs.  When I arrived on scene, I immediately noticed a small vessel approximately 23' in length, bearing FL registration numbers FL 7640 NN, docked at the public docks behind a local bar/restaurant called the Dive Bar.  The vessel was a rental boat from Freedom Boat Club and was insured through the rental company  The vessel's drivers/starboard side windshield had been shattered completely along with the starboard side rear passenger seat upholstery ripped open and bent, and a support beam of the bimini top was also damaged and bent on the starboard side.  As I walked around to get a better look at the starboard side, I then noticed a long gouge in the fiberglass of the capon the boat on the starboard side about 6' above the rub rail next to the cockpit of the vessel. photographic evidence of damage attached to this report.

I made contact with a subject sitting behind the wheel of the vessel and identified.  I asked Operator1 how the damage to the vessel occurred and he could not give me a reasonable explanation as to how the accident happened. Operator1 claimed he was operating the vessel at the time of the accident and that he was a novice boater and miss judged the distance he needed to clear the boat he hit.  I asked Operator1 which boat he hit and he pointed out a large cabin cruiser moored on the north docks of the marina. Operator1 said he struck the anchor of the cabin cruiser which was hanging from the bow of the cabin cruiser.

The owner of the cabin cruiser with name Allure, hailing port Jupiter FL, and documentation # 112820 was not present at the time of the accident.  The dock master at Jupiter Yacht Club Contacted owner and advised him of the accident.  The cabin cruiser sustained minor fiberglass damage on its deck from its anchor during the impact along with the anchor sustaining damage as well.  Photographic evidence is attached to this report.

On August 23, 2013, I was able to view the surveillance video of the accident and it appeared that the operator had ample time to avoid the collision however did not take action to avoid it, did not have proper  lookout, and was not paying attention. I believe the cause of the accident was violation of Coast Guard Navigation Rule 5; No proper look out, and Nav Rule 8; Action to avoid Collision. Operator was cited for violation of Nav Rules 5 and 8.
JUPITER