OPERATOR1 stated he was piloting his vessel from Navajo Canyon toward the canyon mouth, intending to turn right and head uplake to Warm Creek. He stated his vessel was approximately 25 yards away from the canyon wall on his right and his speed was approximately 5-10 mph. He stated a large white yacht with dark tinted windows entered the canyon on his left, approximately 25 yards from his vessel. He stated the yacht was traveling at a high rate of speed, which he estimated to be approximately 20-25 mph. He stated the yacht left a huge wake, comprised of three large waves. He stated the first and second waves threw a large amount of water onto and into his vessel and that the second wave seemed to bring the bow of his vessel down sharply. He stated it was at that time that the third wave of the yacht''s wake hit his vessel hard and overwhelmed it, swamping and capsizing his vessel. OPERATOR1 stated the waves were “four to five feet at least” in height.

OPERATOR1 stated a passing third-party boater offered to assist in towing his vessel while OPERATOR1''s associated party member loaded OPERATOR1 and his crew onto another vessel. OPERATOR1 stated they headed back into the canyon where they had just seen a Coconino County Sheriff''s Office Patrol Boat and hoped to receive assistance.

Upon contacting the other boater and observing his towed (OPERATOR1''s) vessel swamping further, subject was advised to cut his tow rope to avoid swamping his own boat. OPERATOR1''s boat immediately submerged and sank at that location.

OPERATOR1 stated the value of his vessel is approximately $30,000 and the property aboard, including four cell phones, two wakeboards, a set of car keys, and his wallet, is approximately $5,000; he estimates the total damage to be approximately $35,000.
LAKE POWELL
Page, AZ                      