RedactedNarrative: Vessel FL 6873 NW struck the Jupiter Federal bridge on the west side causing damage to the vessel. When I asked the operator to tell me what happened he responded that the vessel was traveling North on the Intracoastal Waterway. The operator of the vessel observed the Jupiter Federal Bridge span to be open to allow the passage of another vessel. 
  
  The operator stated that he thought they would make the opening and decided not to wait for the next bridge opening. As the vessel got closer to the bridge, the span began to close to allow vehicle traffic to flow across the bridge. The operator stated that at the time he realized that the vessel wouldn’t safely make the bridge opening, he attempted to turn around to wait for the next opening. The vessel was equipped with a 15-horsepower outboard engine and was not strong enough to effectively turn the vessel in time. The mast of the vessel struck the South-East span of the Jupiter Federal Bridge. The vessel began to lean to its starboard side as the current flowing out of the Jupiter Inlet, pushed the vessel against the bridge and the mast was stuck on the South-East span. As the vessel completed the turn to travel back South on the Intracoastal Waterway the mast of the vessel snapped and freed itself from the Jupiter Federal Bridge.
  
  	I identified the bridge tender at the time of the accident, him what happened, to which he replied that after another vessel had cleared the bridge, he began the closing procedure. He put out a warning on the VHF radio and observed no vessels in the waterway or the blind spots. As the span got to approximately 30 degrees from fully seated, he observed a vessel about 100 yards away from the bridge. After the spans had fully seated is when he observed the mast make contact with the bridge. He also stated that an FDOT inspector came out to the bridge after the accident and said there was no damage to the bridge.
  
  	I photographed the damage to the vessel including the broken mast, and the bent support system of the front sail.
  