On sunday, september 19, 2010, the named vessels were fishing in a tournament on hiawassee lake.  The tournament started at hanging dog access.  According to the operator of vessel 1, he was following another tournament vessel.  When they started around ramsey bend, vessel 1 was approximately 50 feet from the stern of that vessel at a speed of 70 mph.  The tournament vessel in front of vessel 1 maneuvered slightly to the left which in turn moved his wake in the path of vessel 1.  When vessel 1 hit the wake of said vessel, it became unstable.  This instability caused the operator of vessel 1 to slow his speed and trim the motor down.  Due to steering into a left hand turn, slowing his speed, and trimming the motor down caused vessel 1 to turn sharply to the left.  According to the operator of vessel 2, he was following vessel 1 approximately 60 feet from the stern and approximately 40 feet from vessel 1's port side at approximately 70 mph.  The operator of vessel 2 noticed the bow of vessel 1 sway back and forth and instantly turned sharply to the left.  Vessel 1 collided with vessel 2 causing a glancing blow.  The operator of vessel 2 also stated that he maintained a continuous line and had started his turn to the left at the point of impact.  

According to the operator of vessel 1, he knew that vessel 2 was behind him but did not know how close to each other they were.  The operator of the tournament vessel in front of vessel 1 stated that he maintained a continuous line in the middle of the lake until he started his turn and maneuvered his vessel slightly to the left.  He also stated that as he exited the turn, he looked back and saw vessel 1 and vessel 2 approximately 50 years behind him but did not witness the collision.  Distance from collision site to shoreline is approximately 204 feet.  Distance from shoreline to shoreline at the collision site is approximately 900 feet.  There is no witness of the collision.

MURPHY                        