RedactedNarrative: V1 was headed towards Cape Coral from the intercostal waterway in the Caloosahatchee River. V1 went around an unnamed boat that slowed down in front of him. As V1 passed the unnamed boat he was head on with V2. V1 attempted to avoid collision with V2 then turned back towards V1 to avoid collision with a channel marker. V1 then struck V2 on the port side. 
  I asked OP1 how long they had been on the boat and he explained about three hours and that they had headed down from Sarasota. I then asked OP1 where they were headed when this occurred?  He explained that they were headed towards shore from the intercoastal waterway. I then asked OP1 if they had entered the slow speed zone and he explained that to his knowledge they had not, and he explained that he was traveling at about 25 knots. 
  OP1 continued explaining that this had occurred close to the intercoastal waterway as they were entering the channel to head towards shore. OP1 explained that he was following behind a yellow run about that had come off plane suddenly. OP1 explained that he was concerned that he was going to hit the stern of the yellow run about, so he went around his port side. OP1 explained that he maintained his speed because he felt he would have more control of his vessel under power. OP1 explained that at that point he was heading straight towards vessel 2 who he described as also being at plaining speed. OP1 explained that he felt he had 2 choices to try to move slightly and possibly side swipe the vessel or turn hard right and strike a piling. OP1 explained he felt side swiping the vessel was the lesser of two evils and that he was hoping that the operator of vessel 2 could possibly evade and avoid collision.
  