[cva66snipe]

I would not want to be on any small craft doing 40 MPH at night especially on a lake. I've been around boats all my life and night time is no time to be in a hurry in one. I think the investigator has it right the police boats speed was the biggest factor in it. Boat rules are the same as automobiles in the sense you do not drive above a safe speed for the conditions. The best of boaters can make mistakes at night that's why most ones with any common sense throttle down. The only way I'd blame the sail boat operator is if his lights were out.

Some people think hey I'm on the water not asphalt so it's safe. I've nearly been ran over by a cruise ship before in severe fog. Thanks to the good Lord and the cruise ships electronics it was a miss although the ship was in the channel moving at a good speed. When you're on a 50 footer Utility Boat and are close enough to suddenly see inside the passenger cabins and the people in them that's too darn close.

[NoLibZone]

There are conflicting reports about whether or not Beats Workin’ II had her running lights on. Several witnesses on shore, including a retired law enforcement officer, said the running lights were on.