On July 21, 2010 Vessel 1 was being operated in an easterly direction heading out of the mooring field at Hancock Point.  The operator of the vessel was new to operating a boat.  The "instructor" of the Hancock Point Yacht Club sailing program, which is what all persons involved were taking part in, was instructing the operator on running vessel 1.  The vessel was traveling slightly under half  throttle.  I would estimate this speed at 10-15 MPH.  Vessel 1 turned to the right heading back toward the dock when vessel 1 struck its own wake.  The injured person was sitting on the metal grab rail on the port bow of vessel 1.  The injured person fell backwards into the water.  The injured person was able to grab the rail as he went over and held on for approximately 2 seconds.  Vessel 1 was still in gear making forward progress at a consistent speed.  The injured person went under vessel 1, where he was struck across the face, chest, and shoulder.  The instructor immediately took control of the vessel and turned back toward the injured person, who was lying face down in the water.  Two witnesses, who were on vessel 1, jumped into the water and turned the injured person over.  The operator (instructor) of vessel 1 pulled the injured person into the vessel and returned to the dock.  A witness dialed 911.  Emergency medical personnel arrived on scene and subsequently made a decision to have the injured person airlifted to Eastern Maine Medical Center.  The reported injuries were lacerations to the face, chest, and shoulder along with a broken clavicle.  All persons on vessel 1 were wearing personal floatation devices.  The injured person was warned approximately 30 minutes prior to the accident about sitting on the rail of the vessel by a senior instructor.  I would attribute this accident to sitting in an unsafe location on the vessel, operator inattention, and operator inexperience.
Hancock                       