ON 05/09/2023 AT APPROXIMATELY 1730, V1 OPERATOR WAS ATTEMPTING TO DOCK HIS VESSEL AT HOMER SMITH'S MARINA ON TOWN CREEK.  AS HE APPROACHED THE DOCKS, A THUNDERSTORM BLEW IN FROM THE NORTH.  V1 OPERATOR ATTEMPTED TO TURN HIS BOW TO STARBOARD SO THAT HE COULD BACK HIS VESSEL INTO ITS SLIP, BUT THE STRONG WINDS FROM THE NORTH PREVENTED HIM.  HIS VESSEL WAS BEING PROPELLED TOWARDS SHORE AND HE ATTTEMPTED TO THROTTLE THE VESSEL IN FORWARD AND REVERSE TO GET THE BOW AROUND.  AT SOME POINT ONE OF HIS ENGINES STALLED OUT.  WHILE IN REVERSE, HIS STERN STRUCK TWO OF THE DOCKED VESSELS.  V1 OPERATOR EVENTUALLY MANAGED TO GET HIS VESSEL TURNED AROUND AND BACK OUT AWAY FROM THE DOCKS.  THERE HE RESTARTED THE DEAD ENGINE AND LATER SUCCESSFULLY DOCKED HIS VESSEL AFTER THE STORM SUBSIDED.

V1 OPERATOR'S VESSEL SUSTAINED MINOR FIBERGLASS DAMAGE TO ITS STERN AND DAMAGE TO A BBQ GRILL THAT WAS MOUNTED TO THE STERN.  ONE OF THE DOCKED VESSELS SUSTAINED DAMAGE TO THE PORT SIDE FIBERGLASS AND ENGINE VENTS, AS WELL AS THE SWIM PLATFORM ON THE STERN.  THE OTHER DOCKED VESSEL SUSTAINED FIBERGLASS DAMAGE ON THE BOW.


*****END OF REPORT*****
TOWN CREEK
BEAUFORT                      