V1 WAS TRAVELING NORTH IN THE ST JOHNS RIVER IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA AND WAS PLANNING ON DOCKING AT THE JACKSONVILLE LANDING TO MEET A FRIEND.  DUE TO RECENT RAINS AND FASTER CURRENTS, THE V1 OPERATOR WENT PAST THE LANDING TO GET AN IDEA ON HOW HE SHOULD APPROACH DOCKING HIS VESSEL.  HE RIGGED FENDERS AND PREPARED LINES TO DOCK STARBOARD.  HE STARTED MAKING A CLOCKWISE TURN AND INCREASED THROTTLE TO FIGHT THE OUTGOING TIDE AND RIVER CURRENT.  THE STEERING MECHANISM FAILED AND HE WAS NOT ABLE TO MISS STRIKING THE MAIN STREET BRIDGE.  THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE BRIDGE, BUT THE VESSEL'S MAST BROKE IN HALF AND BENT THE FORESTAY.  VARIOUS OTHER COMPONENTS OF THE MAST WERE BENT AND BROKEN SUCH AS MAST HEADLIGHTS, RADAR AND MULTIPLE ATENNAS.  THE OPERATOR WAS ABLE TO SPON THE HELM AND THE RUDDER WAS NOT PIVOTING, INDICATING STEERING NOT OPERATIONAL.  AFTER PASSING UNDER THE BRIDGE, HE WAS ABLE TO GET HIS ANCHOR OUT AND AFFIX HIS EMERGENCY TILLER TO GUIDE HIS VESSEL TO THE DOCK
JACKSONVILLE                  