V1 was traveling in a western direction towards the main channel.  As V1 was about to get on plane, the operator noticed a vessel to his starboard side.  The operator of V1 turned hard to his port side in an effort to avoid a collision.  V2 had just left from a blast off, the start of a bass tournament.  The operator stated that he waved his visor to signal to the tournament participants the start of the blast off.  He stated that he was just getting on plane when he noticed a vessel to his port side and turned hard to his starboard side to try to avoid a collision.  Statements from the occupants of V1 and an independent wittness indicate that V2 started out in a western direction and then turned and started in a southern direction. The operator of V2's statement indicates that his vessel was traveling in a western direction the whole time.  As stated above, the two vessels turned hard in opposite directions in an effort to avoid a collision.  Due to the turning, the left rear corner of V2 contacted the starboard side of V1 at the driver's console.  As a result of the collison, V1 sustained most of the damage.  Once the collision occurred the vessels went to the free launch at Concord on North Shore Rd. where the operators exchanged information.  Then operator of V1 contacted TWRA about the accident.
KNOXVILLE                     