ON JULY 26, 2010, AROUND 12:30PM, I RECEIVED A REPORT OF A BOATING ACCIDENT AT NOR'BANKS SAILING IN DUCK.  I PATROLLED TO DUCK.  UPON ARRIVING AT NOR'BANKS SAILING, I SPOKE WITH THE MOTORBOAT RENTAL MANAGER AND INSPECTED ONE OF THE DAMAGED VESSELS WHILE I WAITED FOR THE OPERATORS TO ARRIVE.  OPERATOR1 ARRIVED AND IDENTIFIED HIMSELF AS ONE OF THE OPERATORS (VESSEL 1).  I HANDED HIM A 4.1 AND SAT WITH HIM ASSISTING WHILE HE COMPLETED THE FORM. OPERATOR2 ARRIVED AND IDENTIFIED HERSELF AS THE OPERATOR OF VESSEL 2.  I HANDED HER AN MB4.1 AND ASSISTED AS SHE COMPLETED THE FORM.  AS OPERATOR2 WAS COMPLETING HER FORM AND OPERATOR1 FINISHED, I ASKED operator1 TO sTeP ASIDE AND EXPLAIN WHAT HAPPENED.  OPERATOR1 STATED THERE WERE THREE PAIRS FROM THE SAME GROUP THAT HAD RENTED PWCS FROM NOR'BANKS SAILING.  VESSEL 1 AND ANOTHER PWC WERE RIDING NEAR EACH OTHER AND RACING ON THE SOUTHERN PORTION OF THE DESIGNATED RIDING AREA.  VESSEL 2 WAS RIDING IN THE NORTHERN AREA OF THE RIDING AREA.  OPERATOR1 STATED THAT HE DECIDED TO GO FIND THE VESSEL 2 AND RACE THEM.  OPERATOR1 OBSERVED VESSEL 2 RIDING AND PROCEEDED IN THAT DIRECTION.  OPERATOR1 STATED HE PICKED AN IMAGINARY SPOT THAT WAS IN FRONT OF BOTH PWCS AND PROCEEDED TO THAT AREA AT ABOUT 30 MPH.  OPERATOR1 SAID "YOU KNOW WHEN YOU ARE GOIN REALLY FAST, YOU CAN'T SEE WHAT'S AROUND YOU, JUST WHAT'S IN FRONT?  WELL IT WAS LIKE THAT AND THE NEXT TIME i SAW THEM, THEY WERE RIGHT THERE.  OPERATOR1 POINTED TO A SPOT APPROXIMATELY FIVE YARDS IN FRONT OF US.  OPERATOR1 WENT ON TO SAY, "THAT IS WHEN I LET OFF THE THROTTLE AND TURNED TO THE SIDE."  OPERATOR1 AND I RETURNED TO OPERATOR2 AS SHE COMPLETED HER FORM.  ONCE OPERATOR2 WAS FINISHED, I ASKED HER TO STEP ASIDE AND EXPLAIN TO ME WHAT HAPPENED.  Operator2 SAID THAT SHE WAS FOLLOWING THE PERIMETER OF THE RIDING AREA AND WAS MAKING A WIDE TURN TO COME BACK TOWARD NOR'BANKS SAILING WHEN SHE (V2) WAS STRUCK BY OPERATOR1 (V1).

IN SUMMARY, I FOUND THAT OPERATOR1, OPERATOR OF VESSEL ONE WAS PROCEEDING IN A NORTHERLY DIRECTION ON THE WATERS OF CURRITUCK SOUND TO RACE WITH OPERATOR2, OPERATOR OF VESSEL 2.  OPERATOR1 HAD "TUNNEL VISION" SPEEDING TOWARD A POINT IN FRONT OF BOTH VESSELS.  FROM OPERATOR1'S PERSPECTIVE, THE TWO VESSELS WERE TRAVELING IN THE SAME DIRECTION.  THE NEXT TIME OPERATOR1 NOTICED OPERATOR2 SHE WAS APPROXIMATELY 5 YARDS IN FRONT OF HIM.  OPERATOR1 LET OFF OF THE THROTTLE AND TURNED THE STEERING.  WITHOUT PROPULSION THERE WAS NO STEERING CONTROL, THE RESULT WAS A COLLISION IMPACTING VESSEL TWO ON THE MIDDLE OF THE PORT SIDE OF THE PWC.  OPERATOR2 (V2) WAS MAKING A WIDE LEFT HAND TURN AND WAS UNAWARE OF OPERATOR1'S (V1) PRESCENCE OR INTENTIONS.  ALL PFDS WERE PROPERLY WORN AND FITTED.  THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF ALCOHOL OR DRUG USE IN THIS INCIDENT.  OPERATOR1 WAS CHARGED WITH OPERATING A PWC AT GREATER THAN NO WAKE SPEED WITHIN 100 FEET OF ANOTHER VESSEL.
DUCK                          