V1 OPERATOR WAS TOWING HIS SON AND A FRIEND ON A WATERTUBE IN THE LITTLE SARASOTA BAY CHANNEL NEAR THE VALMO BOAT RAMP.  V1 WAS SOUTHBOUND AND HAD JUST PASSED ICW MARKER 43 WHEN THE OPERATOR MADE A 180 DEGREE STARBOARD TURN AND BEGAN TRAVELING NORTH.  THE WATERTUBE WAS BEING TOWED BY A 60 FOOT LINE AND SWUNG WIDE TO THE VESSEL'S PORT SIDE DURING THIS TURN.  AS V1 STRAIGHTENED OUT, THE WATERTUBE SWUNG BACK TOWARDS THE STARBOARD SIDE.  AS V1 PASSED BY ICW MARKER 44 ON ITS STARBOARD SIDE, THE WATERTUBE LINE STRUCK THE MARKER CAUSING IT TO SWING TOWARDS THE MARKER.  THE TOW LINE SNAPPED AND ONE PASSENGER ON THE WATERTUBE WAS EJECTED, WHILE THE OTHER ONE STAYED ON AND STRUCK THE MARKER RECEIVING INJURIES FROM IMPACT.
SARASOTA                      