RedactedNarrative: On 12/8/2020 at 1:29 hours, the police department received a call of a vessel rolling over and sinking in big Marco pass by Marco Island. Sgt. responded in our marked patrol vessel and found everyone was already safe on land. The incident involved a 42 foot sailboat which was disabled (steering was out) and anchored as well as a 25 foot tow boat from TowBoatUs. Marco Island Fire and Rescue recovered everyone and took them to Rose Marina, 951 Bald Eagle Drive, Marco Island. 
  
  The subjects in v2 were in their 42 foot sailboat trying to motor to Marco Island from offshore. A cold front had passed earlier in the day and caused the winds to increase by 25 to 30 knots along with 5 to 7 foot sea's. Operator2 had contacted TowBoat US or assistance in entering Marco pass. Operator2 stated thy had a 42 foot sailboat weighing 17 tons with a 7 foot draft and they were concerned about the depth and TowBoat US advised they had plenty of water and to just stay in the channel. Operator2 passed marker 2 of big Marco pass but before getting to marker 4 they lost steering. Operator2 dropped his anchor and they became secure to the bottom in 15 feet of water. They called TowBoat US and advised of what happened and they advised that a vessel was enroute and would be there shortly. 
  
  Upon arrival Tow Boat US called Operator2 on the radio and asked the condition of his windlass and Operator2 wasn't sure but said it was probably okay. TowBoat US tossed a line to Operator2 and he secured it to the vessel. TowBoat started to pull the sailboat but could not relieve the pressure on the anchor which Operator2 had to cut in order to move the boat. Once the towboat operator felt they were able to turn East, he started to make the turn, this had the sailboat over towards the shallows. The bottom of the sailboat started hitting bottom and the rudder turned the vessel hard to port and because of the string winds made the sailboat speed up. 
  
  Several large waves came over the transom putting large amounts of water in the towboat. No one of the towboat attempted to untie the tow line as a precaution and the tow vessel finally rolled over. The sail boat was hard aground and the towboat sunk upside down. The Operator2 put their dingy into the water and rescued the crew of the towboat and waited for Marco Fire. 
  
  Responded to the scene on 12/08/2020 at 708 hours and took some photo's and information on the vessels then returned to land to start my investigation. Over the course of several days I collected statements from the captain of the tow vessel, the mate refused to provide a statement. I also received statements from the Operator2. SeaTow came to the scene and salvaged the TowBoatUS vessel and advised he would provide a bid to the Operator2 later to remove their sailboat. Under the circumstances (high winds 25 to 30 knots plus 5 to 6 foot seas) the sailboat should have been left at anchor being that it was holding fast and not dragging then wait for daylight to better assess the situation.