Vessel #1, with an Operator who had never operated a personal watercraft previously and who had not taken a state-required boater education class, had been operating for approximately one-half hour under the supervision of the owner of Vessel #1 when the incident occured.  Prior to the incident, the Operator had been warned repeatedly to slow down in the no-wake zone where Vessel #1 was being operated (back and forth between open water and the marina).  The Operator then turned the corner at the end of a row of docks and accelerated toward the owner's position when he lost control of Vessel #1, crashing into Vessel #2, at which time the Operator of Vessel #1 was thrown from Vessel #1.  The Operator of Vessel #1 did not suffer any injuries.  The Operator of Vessel #1 did report smoking marijuana earlier in the day (1000 hours), but stated that he had not consumed any alcohol or taken any drugs since that time.

Damage to Vessel #1 included damage to the bottom of the hull with two large holes (one in the middle and one to the aft of Vessel #1).  Damage to Vessel #2 included a very large dent in the right transom as well as the metal protecting the deck of the boat sustaining scratches and being broken loose.  A bolt on Vessel #2 that was holding the protective metal to the deck had been pulled through the deck from the impact and the snap ring on the gunwale used to snap the cover to the boat had been bent and had purple transfer paint on it.  There was also purple transfer paint on the propeller of the outboard motor of Vessel #2; the propeller had also been bent and the cavitation plate had been broken (with transfer paint on it as well).
Delaware                      