RedactedNarrative: 	On August 10th, 2019 around 19:30 hours five sailboats were involved in a boat crash on the southern side of Bull Island on Flathead Lake. Four out of the five vessels involved sustained damage above $100. The fifth vessel successfully navigated away from the island and anchored out in deep water. Lake County Search and Rescue responded to the initial call for service and brought the occupants of Vessels #1 and #2 to shore.
  
  	On the evening of August 10th the weather system that came through produced wind gusts in excess of 50 mph out of the SE and waves up to five feet in height. The air temperature was 74°F and the water temperature was 71.5°F. The strong wind gusts and strong rains lasted approximately 30 to 40 minutes in duration before tapering off to lighter rains and winds.  
  
   The primary cause of this crash was the weather. As mentioned previously, on the evening of the 10th a strong thunderstorm system came out of the Southeast and had windspeeds in excess of 50mph. These five sailboats were anchored on one anchor in a southerly exposed cove of Bull Island when this storm system came through. The anchor dragged and could not sufficiently hold all five vessels. Occupants were gathered on vessels in the center of the ‘raft’ having dinner. Once the severity of the storm and waves was realized operators jumped back in to their separate vessels, cut lines, and attempted to motor out into deep water. Four of the five vessels were unable to get underway in time to not ground, beach, or otherwise collide with shore. 
  
  The secondary cause of this crash was improper anchoring. The five vessels involved were all using one anchor line when the wind and wave action picked up due to this storm. The anchor dragged while under weight of five vessels. The five vessels were rafted up while the occupants and operators were having dinner/social hour together. The operators of the boats intended on anchoring independently once dinner was over and did not expect the storm to take as strong of a northerly route. 
  
  Vessels #1 and #2 were turned about to starboard from whence (180° rotation) they were anchored/rafted and ended up grounding on their port sides with bows in towards shore. The skegs on both vessels were damaged and both vessels sustained damage to their fiberglass hulls. 
  
  Vessel #1 took on water and its hull failed. Holes were observed on the port side. Vessel #3 was the anchor vessel, although the anchor dragged its bow did stay pointed into the waves and into the wind. Vessel #3 still grounded into a gravel bar and damage to its keel is likely. A barge pulled Vessel #3 off the gravel bar and pulled Vessels #1 and #2 off from shore. Vessel #1 was brought to shore by the barge as it was no longer sea worthy.
  
  Vessel #4 (Trimaran) was able to motor away from shore after first beaching and colliding with shore. Vessel#4 received damage to its port side ama (outrigger float). Vessel #5 was able to successfully navigate away from shore and anchored in deep water after its engine stalled. 
  
  The operator of Vessel #1 was treated for an injury to the hand but did not receive treatment beyond first aid. 
  