RedactedNarrative: On 5/28/21 at approximately 8pm, I was dispatched to a boating accident between a commercial paddle wheel vessel and a recreational skiff near Jewfish Key in Manatee County.  No injuries were reported.  Vessel damage was sustained to the skiff.
  Verbal statements from OPERATOR 1, PASSENGER 3, and OPERATOR 2 were consistent with one another. As the Anna Maria Princess was traveling northbound on the ICW near Marker 41, OPERATOR 1 attempted to pass in his Boston Whaler along the port/left side of the Princess.  OPERATOR 1 and PASSENGER 3 both confirmed that OPERATOR 1 took his hand off the steering to wave to the passengers on the Princess, and his vessel immediately made a hard right turn, striking the front/bow port/left side of the Princess with the front/bow starboard/right side of the Whaler.  OPERATOR 2 stated he had not seen the vessel come up from behind and pass his vessel, but stated, “he {OPERATOR 1} must have been going pretty fast.”  OPERATOR 1 stated he believed he was going about 25mph when his vessel struck the Princess and immediately flipped, tossing him, PASSENGER 1, and the dog from the vessel.  OPERATOR 2 stated he heard the impact, immediately put the vessel into neutral, and saw the Whaler capsized with two people and a dog in the water.  They initiated their man-overboard drills and got a life-ring to the subjects in the water.  
  OPERATOR 2 believes he was traveling at approximately 4 knots, roughly 5mph, when his vessel was struck.  OPERATOR 1, PASSENGER 2, and the dog made it safely to the shoreline of Jewfish Key.  US Coast Guard (USCG) and Sea Tow responded to the scene.  A good Samaritan helped right the vessel and bail out the water.  Professional salvage/recovery services and EMS were declined, and OPERATOR 1’s son arrived by vessel at approximately 9pm to tow the vessel and occupants back to the Coquina North Boat Ramp.