RedactedNarrative: On 10/05/16 at approximately 8:30 A.M. I, Officer of the Maryland Natural Resources Police responded to a boating accident that occurred on Spa Creek in Annapolis. Upon arriving on scene, I met with the General Manager of the Yacht Basin Company Marina in Annapolis. General manager directed my attention to a 112' Yacht called "Winning Drive" which was docked at General manager's marina and had been struck by a sailboat earlier on the morning of 10/05/16. 
  
  General manager stated that around 8:19 A.M. on 10/05/16 he was standing on the breezeway next to the vessel "Winning Drive" when he noticed a white hulled sailboat maneuvering near the bow of "Winning Drive." General manager yelled to one of the crew members aboard "Winning Drive" who was standing on the bow to keep an eye on the approaching sailboat. General manager then observed the operator of the sailboat throttle up in an attempt to steer around "Winning Drive" but the sailboat did not have the room to clear the bow of "Winning Drive" and the steel cable holding the spreaders of the mast scraped against the starboard bow of "Winning Drive." The sailboat then motored away from "Winning Drive" and docked at a slip across from General manager's Marina. General manager stated that the operator of the sailboat did return to the scene to meet with the Captain of "Winning Drive." General manager advised that his marina is equipped with video surveillance which captured the accident firsthand. Upon viewing the surveillance, I observed the sailing vessel maneuvering towards the bow of "Winning Drive" before being pushed across the bow because of the wind. I then observed the sailing vessel abruptly motor forward and as it does the steel cables connecting the spreaders of the mast scrape across the starboard to center bow of "Winning Drive." 
  
  After viewing the video surveillance, I then met with the Captain of "Winning Drive". Captain Operator1 advised that he was in the cabin of "Winning Drive" when he observed a white sailboat with Virginia registration 8674 BZ strike the bow of his vessel as it was attempting to maneuver towards the boat show floating dock. Captain Operator1 stated that the bow of "Winning Drive" sustained two significant scratches approximately 40" long by 5" wide and another scratch 36' long by 5" wide. These two scratches went through the paint and primer down to the fiberglass. Captain Operator1 estimated the damage to be between $2,000 and $3,000 worth. 
  
  I then met with two other witnesses who both saw the sailing vessel strike "Winning Drive." Their observations of the accident corroborated both General manager's and Captain Operator1's statements as well as held true to what I had observed in the video surveillance. Both gentleman had observed the sailing vessel turn port side in the docking area where it then began to be pushed by the wind. They then observed the Captain of the sailing vessel attempt to maneuver the vessel before the steel cables of its mast scraped against the bow of "Winning Drive." 
  
  After interviewing all the witnesses, I then met with the sailboat operator. Operator2 stated that the wind had caught his vessel as he was attempting to dock it at the boat show docks but admitted that as the Captain of his vessel it was ultimately his responsibility to take all the necessary measures to avoid a collision. I issued Operator2 one Natural Resources Citation for failing to obey the Federal Inland Navigation Rules. I specifically cited Rule 8 from the U.S. Coast Guard International-Inland Navigation Rules. Rule 8 pertains to the action of a vessel operator to avoid collision. The authority under Maryland Natural Resources law is NR-8-703, COMAR Regulation: 08-18-01-04 A (1). This carries a maximum penalty of $500.00 for a first offense and a $1,000 and/or 1 year of imprisonment for a second offense. 
  
  Operator2 did exchange information with Captain Operator1 for insurance purposes. The accident resulted in property damage only. No individuals either aboard the sailing vessel or aboard "Winning Drive" sustained any personal injuries. General manager will be contacting me once he has obtained a copy of the video surveillance so I can have it for evidentiary purposes. The investigation is closed following the issuance of the citation to Operator2 and all events occurred in Anne Arundel County, Maryland.
  