V1 WAS TRAVELING SOUTHBOUND ON THE ICW.  V1 HAD TO STOP AND WAIT FOR THE SOUTHERN BLVD BRIDGE TO OPEN IN ORDER TO CONTINUE SOUTH.  V1 OPERATOR WAS HAVING TROUBLE MAINTAINING THE VESSEL'S POSITION WITHIN THE ICW DUE TO STRONG WIND AND TIDAL CURRENT.  V1 OPERATOR ADVISED THAT HE CONVERSED VIA VHF RADIO WITH V2 WAITING ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE BRIDGE ABOUT HIS PROBLEM.  HE STATED THAT BOTH OPERATOR'S AGREED TO ALLOW V1 TO PASS THROUGH FIRST.  V1 MADE ITS APPROACH EVENTHOUGH THE WESTERN BRIDGE SPAN WAS NOT COMPLETELY OPEN OR VERTICAL.  V1 OPERATOR STATED THAT HE THOUGHT V2 WAS TRYING TO PASS UNDER THE EASTERN FULLY OPENED BRIDGE SPAN, AND THAT HE WAS FORCED TO QUICKLY PUT V1 IN REVERSE LOSING ALL HEADWAY.  THE WIND AND CURRENT PUSHED V1 INTO THE PARTIALLY OPENED WESTERN BRIDGE SPAN.  THE FORWARD MAST RIGGING ON V1 MADE CONTACT WITH THE BRIDGE SPAN LIGHTING SYSTEM.  THE CONTACT CAUSED DAMAGE TO PULPIT AND PULLED OUT HARDWARE CREATING A HOLE IN THE HULL OF V1.  THE BRIDGE TENDER STATED THAT HE WAS NOT IN POSITION TO WITNESS THE ACTUAL IMPACT WITH THE BRIDGE, BUT HE DID STATE THAT V2 DID NOT CONTRIBUTE TO THE BOATING ACCIDENT.
WEST PALM BEACH               