The wind was light out of the South Southeast and the current was strong moving outbound in a southerly direction with high tide at 0729 hours (8.6 foot high tide). Operator was the skipper and only passenger aboard the vessel “Duso” an aluminum hulled 46 foot sailing vessel. Operator received fuel from the Savannah Bend Marina was attempting to dock at Hinckley Yacht Services marina for an overnight stay. At Hinckley there are two docks one dock extends North and the other extends south with a hoist slip in between the two docks The J-30 was on the North dock facing South where Operator was trying to dock. 

The Beneteau was on the South dock facing North. Operator attempted to hail Hinckley over VHF radio without success. Operator was headed South with the current alongside the dock and began slowing down. Operator advised that he could not slow the boat down enough due to the current pushing the boat. Operator began a turn to change direction Operator stated the boat made contact with a Beneteau Oceanis 311 sailboat "Da Sind Wir" docked and unoccupied both boats made contact starboard bow to starboard bow. There was no damage to Operators boat however the Beneteau received some scrapes and scratches    Operator turned his boat into the current and went forward on his boat to adjust the docking lines for a port side docking attempt. The bow of Operator's vessel turned hard to port and squarely struck the docked and unoccupied blue hulled J 30 sailboat "Ronin" just aft of amidships on the port side. This impact crushed the hull to deck edge of the J 30 and significant scratching of the hull. Operator's boat received a dent on the bow and scratching down the port side of the bow.  I photographed the damage to the hulls of each boat from their respective decks. I interviewed the witnesses, employee at Hinckley, he saw Operator's vessel circling in the river and then came alongside the dock in an attempt to dock. Hinckley employee advised Operator was going to fast. Hinckley employee saw Operator side swipe the Beneteau sailing vessel, then turn the vessel around and leave the helm to move lines. Hinckley employee observed Operator's boat strike the J-30 in a T-bone type fashion. Hinckley employee and other dock staff helped Operator dock his boat. Hinckley employee asked Operator about the accident. Hinckley employee believed Operator was a little slow to respond. I also spoke to witness2 , employee at Hinckley. Hinckley employee2 was on the dock adjacent to where the J-30 was docked. Hinckley employee2 stated when Operator was docking, but could not slow down Operator continued past the North dock and his inflatable dinghy trailing behind Operator's boat caught on the tip of the South dock which swung Operator's boat sideways toward the Beneteau. Hinckley employee2 also observed the collision with the J-30 and heard a loud bang indicating the impact was significant.                                                                                                               

My investigation indicates that Operator did not properly judge the speed and direction of the current when he attempted to dock (common practice is to approach a dock into the current affording the operator with more control and less boat speed.) Operator's vessel was pushed by the current and his dinghy should have been secured closer to the vessel to eliminate fouling of the lines and vessel with other adjacent objects in the water. Operator has a considerable amount of sailing experience starting sailing in 1961 and has owned Duso since 1980 so he is very familiar with the vessels handling characteristics. Operator is responsible for the damages incurred by the collisions.  Operator was not under the influence of any substance.                 



THUNDERBOLT                   