tommays
Admiral
- Joined
- Jul 4, 2004
- Messages
- 6,768
Re: Sailboat vs. Powerboat accident
I live in both worlds and if you Google a bit the sternlight has already been proven to have been in working order BUT the boat was not secured and photographed and the issue now is was the running light breaker TRIPPED from the damage OR OFF
different case >and there are a few more this year of Big power boats running over the stern of sailboats
http://www.sailnet.com/forums/general-discussion-sailing-related/8103-can-happen.html
Until the Capitan of the 80ft motor yacht was deposed we didn't know where the Sea ray came from. He testified that Sea Ray came up on his port side (which we would have been blind to) crossed his bow missing him by about 50ft. The Sea Ray traveled another 175 to 200 yards and hit us. 200 yards=600 feet. Depending on the speed of the Sea Ray we had 12 to 18 sec. to react if we had seen the Sea Ray at our first opportunity. Who really does look behind them that often? Also another factor, was we were close enough to the George Washington bridge (I 80) to hear the traffic. I believe that is why we didn't hear the Sea Ray engines sooner. Over the years I have asked myself time and time again could I have done anything to prevent this. If I had seen the Sea Ray sooner and made a turn would we been hit broadside? I am sure we would have been cut in half if we took the hit on the beam. I feel secure in my knowledge that I just didn't have the time to prevent this. I could not live with myself knowing that I could have done something to prevent my wife injuries and did nothing!
Here is a good read on a case that started in 2003 and just finished its run through the legal system and is now fact based
I live in both worlds and if you Google a bit the sternlight has already been proven to have been in working order BUT the boat was not secured and photographed and the issue now is was the running light breaker TRIPPED from the damage OR OFF
different case >and there are a few more this year of Big power boats running over the stern of sailboats
http://www.sailnet.com/forums/general-discussion-sailing-related/8103-can-happen.html
Until the Capitan of the 80ft motor yacht was deposed we didn't know where the Sea ray came from. He testified that Sea Ray came up on his port side (which we would have been blind to) crossed his bow missing him by about 50ft. The Sea Ray traveled another 175 to 200 yards and hit us. 200 yards=600 feet. Depending on the speed of the Sea Ray we had 12 to 18 sec. to react if we had seen the Sea Ray at our first opportunity. Who really does look behind them that often? Also another factor, was we were close enough to the George Washington bridge (I 80) to hear the traffic. I believe that is why we didn't hear the Sea Ray engines sooner. Over the years I have asked myself time and time again could I have done anything to prevent this. If I had seen the Sea Ray sooner and made a turn would we been hit broadside? I am sure we would have been cut in half if we took the hit on the beam. I feel secure in my knowledge that I just didn't have the time to prevent this. I could not live with myself knowing that I could have done something to prevent my wife injuries and did nothing!
Here is a good read on a case that started in 2003 and just finished its run through the legal system and is now fact based
