RedactedNarrative: Tug pushing barge and hip towing 22ft open motorboat southbound in ICW. 46ft. Yacht southbound in ICW overtakes tug at a close distance causing wake damage. Operator of yacht cited for careless operation of a vessel. 
  
  an approximately 50 ft. yacht bearing the name "Quantum" had caused a large wake while passing a tug pushing a barge, causing damage. The yacht had continued southbound in the ICW.  Ofc. and I immediately responded to the scene, where we located a yacht matching the description of the involved vessel. Upon making contact with the operator, who was later identified, he confirmed that he had been involved in a incident with a barge. Ofc. and myself then instructed Operator1 to follow us into Palm Bay Marina, where the other involved vessel was moored up, in order to investigate.
  	 After conducting the investigation and gathering witness statements from the parties involved, it was determined that the yacht, "Quantum" (FL9143PJ) and a 25 ft commercial tug (DO1243114) which was pushing a barge and hip towing a 22 ft open motor vessel (FL1696LM), were traveling southbound in the Intracoastal Waterway. The vessels involved were approximately one mile north of 79th Street Causeway, when the vessel "Quantum" being operated by Operator1, overtook the tug from the tug's port side at a distance of approximately 20-30 ft. Operator1 stated that he estimated his vessel to be traveling at approximately 17 mph. The wake created by the vessel "Quantum" passing at such a close distance while "plowing" through the water was such that the 22ft. vessel being towed alongside, smashed into the barge, bending the front railing. In addition to the damage of the 22ft. vessel, the tug was also damaged due to the intense rocking caused by the wake, damaging the mast and leaving it bent toward the starboard side. 
  	Operator1 failed to notice the damage caused by his vessel and continued southbound in the ICW before anchoring up just south of the Julia Tuttle Causeway. an occupant of the tug vessel, then operated the 22ft. damaged vessel in an attempt to catch up with "Quantum" and notify Operator1 of the damages caused by his wake. Operator1 claimed that Operator2, while operating the 22ft. vessel, struck "Quantum" on the port side while they were talking, leaving damage. Operator2 claimed that while making contact with Operator1, that they came close to "Quantum" but did not strike the vessel as a second occupant with Operator2 put out his hands and kept the two vessels from making contact. An inspection of the port side of "Quantum" revealed a dark rub mark on the hull. No significant damage to the hull or paint transfer was seen on "Quantum" or the 22ft. vessel. 
  	After taking witness statements and pictures of the reported damage, the investigation was concluded. Operator1 was subsequently cited for careless operation of a vessel (F.S. 327.33(2)) and the involved parties were given the relevant case information. Ofc. and I then cleared the scene.