On 08/01/2011, at approximately 1420 hours, two vessels left the Linekin Bay Resort.  Vessel 1 - a 13 foot Boston Whaler with 8 people aboard left the dock and headed E.southeast.  Vessel 1 was on the North side of the dock.  Vessel 2, a 23 foot Slickcrest, left the same time and headed in the same direction.  Vessel 2 left from the south side.  Vessel 1 was heading for a sailboat owned by Linekin Bay Resort.  The sailboat vessel 1 was heading for was approximately 280 feet from the dock.  At some point, Vessel 1 manuevered ahead of vessel 2 and made an arc to the starboard before turning to port and heading back in the direction it came from.  There is some question as to whether vessel 1, being the overtaking vessel, failed to follow the rules of the road and give right of way to vessel 2.  
Vessel 2's operator had been sitting on the backrest of the operator's seat and steering with his feet.  He jumped down to operate vessel 2 with his hands to avoid collision and when he did, hit the throttle causing the boat to accelerate.  Vessel 2 collided with Vessel 1 midship and continued to accelerate - driving vessel 1 approximately 30 feet from original point of impact.  Vessel 1 capsized and all 8 occupants ended up in the water.  5 of the 8 passengers on Vessel 1 were wearing PFD's.  The operator of Vessel 2 put vessel 2 into reverse and backed it off vessel 1.  Vessel 2 operator shut vessel 2 off and jumped into the water to assist with vessel 1's occupants.  A second whaler belonging to Linekin Bay Resort rowed to accident location and brought 6 of vessel 1's passengers to shore.  The two remaining vessel 1 passengers swam to shore.  Vessel 2's operator swam to his boat and brought it to the same dock he left from.

Boothbay Harbor               