RedactedNarrative: Vessel 1 and Vessel 2 were participating in Louie’s Last Regatta held on Lake Michigan.  A collision occurred just 1 or 2 minutes after the start of the race.  
  
  Vessel 1 operator stated that he did not know where the other boat that was involved was and that he was told it towed to the Milwaukee Sailing Center.  Vessel 1 Operator stated that during a sail boat race with his sail boat, another sail boat came across his bow and they collided.  Vessel 1 operator state that he going straight into the wind and called it “hard up”, the direction was east at approximately 80 degrees and was going “starboard tack”.  Vessel 1 Operator stated that he did not see the other sail boat due to the sail blocking his view and he did not hear anything on the radio either.  Vessel 1 Operator also stated that he believed the other sail boat was going “port tack”.  Vessel 1 Operator stated that the sea was calm and the wind was approximately SE 10 to 12 knots.  Vessel 1 Operator further stated that by the time he realized there was something wrong, the collision was inevitable.  Vessel 1 Operator also stated that the race has staggered times and the other sail boat was supposed to be 5 minutes of him and he was not sure why it was there.  Vessel 1 Operator then stated that he has been sailing for over 50 years and has never had an incident.  No injuries were reported.
  
  Officer then located Vessel 2 which was out of the water.  Officers located the Vessel 2 Owner/Operator on October 11, 2017.  Vessel 2 Owner/Operator stated that he was operating the boat during the incident and did not know he had to report the incident.  During the investigation, it was found that a lot of people in the sail races, contest incidents, including accidents through a racing committee who reviews the incident and determines who is at fault, never involving law enforcement for reporting purposes.  Vessel 2 Owner/Operator believed that he did not need to report this incident and was going to do what he believed was the proper way of dealing with this incident.  Vessel 2 Owner/Operator stated that he had been sailing for over 50 years himself and was part of the sailing center’s safety course instructor staff.  Vessel 2 Owner/Operator stated that his boat was facing in a southeast direction and was going port to starboard.  Vessel 2 Owner/Operator stated he did not see the other sail boat until it was too late.  Damage to Vessel 2 was severe.  Vessel 2 Owner/Operator stated the value of his boat was approximately $5,000.   No injuries were reported by either the Vessel 2 Owner/Operator or Vessel 2 Passenger.
  