On 08/29/13 I (CPO) received a phone message about a boat accident that occurred on Lake Michigan.  After returning the call I was made aware of a boat accident from 08/24/13 between 1:45pm and 2:45pm between two sail boats on Lake Michigan, 2.9 miles east northeast of Belmont Harbor.  Sailboat one “Windshear” 40'' 1987 Hunter Legend is owned and was operated by opeator1.  Sailboat two “Storm” 37'' 2003 Tarton 3700 is owned and was operated by operator2.  
   Operator1 reports he was on a starboard tac at a heading of approximately 60 degrees.  He was sailing at 15 knots with 2-4 foot waves for approximately 45 minutes.  He was heeling over about 20 degrees.  Operator1 was struck on the port side by Operator2.  Operator2''s anchor took the majority of the impact and then the bow slid up on top of Operator1''s deck.  The bow then slid down the port side of Operator1''s boat.  Most of the damage was to the rail and not the fiberglass itself.
   Operator2 reports he had taken a starboard tac for approximately 10 miles and had then turned around to head back toward Chicago.  He had been on a port tac for 10 minutes travelling approximately 5 knots with a 10 knot wind out of the south southeast.  He was traveling with a Genoa sail only and did not see any other boats when he set his tac. Operator2 was attempting to show a female passenger on the boat where the bathroom was and had set the autopilot at the time of the collision. 
   Both boat operators said they did not see the other before the collision occurred.   
   Both boats were still sailable and no one was injured.  Both Operator1 and Operator2 reported they attempted to report the accident and had spoken to the Chicago Police Marine Unit who did not respond since both boats were operational. The Conservation Police were not notified until 08/29/30, when Operator1 left a message on the contact line.   
 Operator1 had four people on his boat to include himself and Operator2 had six people on his boat to include himself.  
There was approximately $27,000 damage total. $15,000 to Operator1''s boat, which was a figure verbally given to me by Operator1 and $12,000 to Operator2''s boat which was an estimate given to me by Racine Riverside Marina.  The pictures of Operator1''s boat were taken by me and the pictures of Operator2''s boat were taken by Operator2 and Racine Riverside Marina and given to me.  The GPS coordinates according to Operator1 are N41'' 57.979 W087'' 34.854, Operator2 reported he did not record the location of the accident.  
The wind was calm with choppy waves around 2 feet high and the temperature was warm approximately 82 degrees.
  Both individuals received a written warning for not reporting the accident to the Department of Natural Resources within the required five days.
Operator2 received a citation for careless operation of a boat and a written warning for interference with the navigation of another boat.
Chicago, IL