Disposition:
On the above listed date, and time, I, Officer was on vessel patrol in the vicinity of the 707 bridge in Tequesta, FL.  I overheard a call over my VHF radio of a good Samaritan boater calling into the US Coast Guard a capsized vessel with 4 people in the water, in the vicinity of the ICW and Coral Cove Park marker 57.  I could see the capsized vessel from my position and quickly and safely responded to the scene.  Upon my arrival I saw a small catamaran style vessel capsized East of the marked channel with 4 white males attempting to overturn the vessel.  The location the vessel was in was shallow enough for the men to stand.  I asked the men in the water if they were injured in any way and each of them said "No".  

I asked V1operator what happened and he explained that him and his three friends were on their vessel fishing just East of the marked channel, when two vessels traveling Southbound in the ICW, which appeared to be racing, caused a large wake which capsized  his vessel throwing him and his three occupants overboard.  V1operator described the vessels causing the wake as one 35' to 40' foot white and blue in color Cigarette style racing vessel and one 26' to 30' foot red in color, non planing/ displacement style hull cabin cruiser.  At approximately 1512hrs, I spotted a red in color cabin cruiser traveling Northbound in the ICW matching V1operator's description of one of the vessels. I asked V1operator if that was one of the vessel in question and he and his friends confirmed to me that was in fact one of the vessels which created the wake.  I conducted a vessel stop on the vessel and made contact operator2.  I questioned V2operator as to his whereabouts recently and asked if he had recently traveled Southbound in the ICW past our current location. V2operator said "Yes, I live just North of here and was traveling in that direction".  I informed V2operator that the individuals from the capsized vessel gave a description of matching his vessel as one of two vessels causing a large wake which subsequently caused their vessel to capsize.  I gathered V2operator's information for him and his vessel which is listed above and concluded my vessel stop so that I could return to assist the capsized vessel and its occupants.  The second vessel described as the 35' to 40' foot white and blue cigarette style racing vessel was unable to be located by myself and other officers in the area, looking from both land and water.

At approximately 1538 hrs, Sea Tow arrived on scene to assist and at 1612hrs was able to return the vessel to its upright position and began towing the vessel back to V1operator's launch point.  V1operator boarded the Sea Tow vessel and the three other occupants boarded my vessel and I transported them back to Burt Reynolds Boat Ramp along with V1operator.  The three other occupants information is attached to the report, listed above. All occupants of the capsized vessel gave witness statements to be attached to this report.

V2operator, the only party positively Identified as the operator of one of the vessels involved in the accident, was issued a warning for careless operation of a vessel.
TEQUESTA VILLAGE