RedactedNarrative: V1 traveling West in the Gulf of Mexico.  Struck wave with hull of vessel.  Operator of V1 injured back from impact.
  
  He told me that he was traveling West, away from the beach when his vessel went over the crest of a wave and had a jolting impact with the bottom of the swell.  He immediately felt a sharp pain in his back.  He was able to flag down another vessel nearby who then called for help over the VHF radio.  
  He fractured his L3 vertebrae and will have surgery to repair the damage.  No permanent disfigurement.
   
  