RedactedNarrative: On september 7th, labor day, at approximately 1150, a swimmer drowned after being unable to return to a drifting pontoon boat.
  
  Vessel 1 was a rented boat that was drifting in the currituck sound.  There were six people onboard that were each taking turns operating the vessel prior to stopping in the middle of the sound.  One of the occupants decided to go for a swim and voluntarily departed the vessel.  The swimmer began to struggle to return to the vessel that was drifting away from the swimmer''s location.  
  
  The wind was blowing approximately 10-15 mph out of the northeast, and the swimmer was upwind from the vessel.  The vessel had a bimini top up and was drifting at a higher rate of speed than the swimmer.  The remaining occupants onboard attempted to throw several type 2 pfds and a type 4 pfd to the swimmer, but he was unable to reach them due to the wind.  The swimmer then went under water and did not resurface.  The remaining occupants did not attempt to navigate the vessel closer to the swimmer due to concerns regarding starting the motor while someone was in the water.
  
  The probable cause of this incident was the swimmer''s ability, weather conditions (high winds), and operator inexperience.  The operator/occupants had no prior experience or education operating a vessel.  Pfds were not worn by any of the occupants or the swimmer.
  