RedactedNarrative: On 06/14/20 at approximately 1:00 P.M., the Maryland Natural Resources Police, responded to Aberdeen Creek, located off of the South River (Anne Arundel County, MD), for a call regarding a boat accident that occurred on 06/13/20. The accident reportedly occurred at around 2:30 P.M., somewhere between the mouth of the South River and the Bloody Point Lighthouse. Upon arriving at Aberdeen Creek, Officer 1 and I observed a 32' sailboat, white in color, bearing MD registration 5681AR with the name "Fidello" displayed on the stern. The sailboat would later be fully identified as a North American Fiberglass, Douglas model. Officer 1 observed significant fiberglass damage to the port side of the North American, which included significant cracking in the hull. Officer 1 and I then met with the owners of the North American, who would be fully identified as Operator 1 and Passenger 1.
  
          Operator 1 stated that at around 2:30 P.M. on the afternoon of 06/13/20, he, along with Passenger 1, were traveling full sail, in a south-easterly direction on a port tack, from the mouth of the South River towards the Bloody Point Lighthouse. Operator 1 stated that he was at the helm and Passenger 1 was positioned on the port-side gunwale, next to him. Operator 1 stated that the starboard side gunwale of his North American was almost touching the water, while the port-side gunwale was canted upwards; obstructing his view of any vessels that may have been on his port side. Operator 1 stated that while his North American was on its port tack, he stood up once and checked for vessels on his port side but saw none. Operator 1 stated that not even five minutes after he had stood up to check for vessels on his port side, there was an impact to the mid-ship portion of the port side of his North American. 
  
  Operator 1 then observed the bow of a white, 45' sailboat laid against the port side of his North American. Operator 1 stated that the captain of the 45' sailboat was yelling at him as his vessel fell off to the port side aft of Operator 1's North American. Operator 1 stated that he and Passenger 1 were so shaken up by the accident that they didn't even think about assessing the damage to their North American nor exchanging information with the captain of the white sailboat. 
  
  Operator 1 stated that the captain of the white sailboat never came back to exchange information but rather proceeded in a south-westerly direction towards the West River. Operator 1 stated that he was traveling approximately 5 knots in a south-easterly direction at the time of the accident and the white sailboat was traveling approximately 5-7 knots on a starboard tack in a south-westerly direction. 
  
  Neither Operator 1 nor Passenger 1 could provide registration information nor the name of the white sailboat. Furthermore, neither Operator 1 nor Passenger 1 could provide any information regarding the captain of the vessel or the lady who was accompanying the captain. The only information Operator 1 and Passenger 1 could provide was that the sailboat that struck them was approximately 45' in length, white in color, and that the captain and female passenger were both Caucasian and appeared to be in their midforties. 
  
  Operator 1 stated that neither he nor Passenger 1 sustained any injuries as a result of the accident. Furthermore, Operator 1 stated that he did not observe any apparent injuries to either the captain nor to the female passenger of the white sailboat. It should be noted that Operator 1 could not give a precise location of where the accident took place. Operator 1 believes it was in the middle portion of the Chesapeake Bay between the mouth of the South River and the Bloody Point Lighthouse. 
  
          Passenger 1 gave a similar account of the events as Operator 1. Passenger 1 stated that she and Operator 1 were sailing from the mouth of the South River towards the Bloody Point Lighthouse, in a south-easterly direction. Passenger 1 stated that they were on a port tack and traveling approximately 5-7 knots. Passenger 1 stated that the North American was heeling significantly to the Starboard side. Passenger 1 stated that she was seated on the port side gunwale facing starboard, therefore she couldn't see any vessels that may have been coming from the port side. Passenger 1 stated that she then, both heard and felt, a large impact, and when she looked up, saw the bow of a white sailboat and realized that there had been a collision. 
  
  Operator 1 stated that the only damage he initially saw right after the accident was some damage to the deck joint on the port side of his North American. Operator 1 stated that he did not see any leaks or cracks in the hull at that point, so he and Passenger 1 decided to continue to the Wye River. Operator 1 stated that once they got to the Wye River, he anchored the North American and inspected below the water line for any damage. Operator 1 discovered cracks in the vessel's fiberglass below the waterline. Operator 1 stated that he was able to temporarily repair the cracks with Marine-Tex. Besides the cracks under the waterline, Operator 1 further discovered that one of the rail stanchions on the port side of the North American was bent while another stanchion on the port side was completely ripped off. Also, one of the lifelines on the port side of the North American was broken. Operator 1 stated that he and Passenger 1 spent the night of 06/13/20 anchored in the Wye River before heading back to Aberdeen Creek on the South River on 06/14/20. 
  
          Officer 1 inquired as to why they waited so long to contact the Maryland Natural Resources Police. Passenger 1 stated that they were so overwhelmed by the accident and weren't thinking clearly about anything. It should be noted that Operator 1 accepted full responsibility for what happened and stated that per the USCG Navigational Rules and Regulation Handbook, the rules of the road, he was at fault. According to Rule 12 of the U.S. Coast Guard Inland Navigational Rules governing steering and sailing, "When two sailing vessels are approaching one another, so as to involve risk of collision, one of them shall keep out of the way of the other as follows: when each has the wind on a different side, the vessel which has the wind on the port side shall keep out of the way of the other." 
  
          Operator 1 stated that he had his North American hauled out and inspected by Diversion Marine in Annapolis. Diversion Marine estimated that the North American suffered between $7,000-$10,000 in damage to the fiberglass. Operator 1 stated that he is going to sail the North American to M & E Salvage in Cambridge to have it scrapped. 
  
          The accident resulted in property damage only; no apparent injuries were sustained by either party. At this time, no information is known about the other sailboat other than it was approximately 45' in length and white in color. The whereabouts of the white sailboat remain unknown at this time.
          No charges have been filed. This case is considered closed pending any discoveries to the whereabouts of the white sailboat. 
  
          All events occurred in Anne Arundel County, Maryland.