ON MAY 17, 2009 A BOATING ACCIDENT OCCURRED ON LAKE NORMAN AT APPROXIMATELY 1:30PM.  ELEVEN SAILBOATS WERE RACING IN THE HOSPICE REGATTA, DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF THE LAKE NORMAN SAILING CLUB, LOCATED AT 1479 YACHT CLUB DRIVE, DENVER, NC 28037.  A 26-FOOT "J-BOAT" (V1) SAILING NORTH INTO THE WIND.  IT WAS OCCUPIED BY A 4 MAN CREW.  A 15.5 FOOT "PIERSON-SNIPE" (V2) WAS SAILING WEST WITH THE WIND ON ITS STARBOARD SIDE.  IT WAS OCCUPIED BY operator2 AND HIS DAUGHTER.  (V2) CHANGED THE DIRECTION OF HIS HEADSAIL (JIB), AND STARTED TURNING TO HIS STARBOARD SIDE.  AS HE MADE THIS TURN, HIS VISIBILITY WAS OBSTRUCTED BY THE SAIL AND THE BOW OF (V2) STRUCK (V1)'S STARBOARD BOW.  AFTER (V2)'S BOW STRUCK, (V2) CAPSIZED ONTO ITS STARBOARD SIDE.  THE KEEL (CENTERBOARD) OF (V2) CUT ALONG THE BOTTOM OF (V1)'S STARBOARD SIDE.  NO INJURIES WERE NOTED IN THIS ACCIDENT.
DENVER                        