YARMOUTH, Maine — The Maine Marine Patrol says a 63-year-old Brunswick man has been killed in a boat collision off Little John Island in Yarmouth.
The Portland Press Herald says the victim, whose name was not released, was operating a small aluminum skiff at about 5:15 p.m. Friday when it collided with a 38-foot motor yacht.
The name of the yacht owner and operator was also being withheld by the marine patrol. The yacht was carrying several passengers.
The victim was pulled from the water shortly after the collision by the crew of a U.S. Coast Guard auxiliary boat. Efforts to revive him were unsuccessful.
It will be interesting to find out who was at fault. A few years ago a large party boat almost collided with my small boat. I was able to speed up to avoid him. The driver of the party boat was drinking alcohol!
No alcohol involved, the sun was in his eyes. I had family on board and it was a tragic accident, going no more than 15 knots.
The sun has probably caused more accidents than one could imagine. A man and wife were killed here a couple of years ago when a pickup truck turned in front of them; they were driving a Harley. The setting sun was to blame and no one was charged. When I’m on the boat I wear very dark sun glasses so I can see the pontoon boats coming at me. Hope everything turns out OK for you.
Do you drive your car, even at 15 mph, when you can’t see what’s in front of you? Why is it OK in a large, high-powered boat? Was it that important to get back to Spring Point Marina in less than a half hour?
I feel very sorry for the skipper of the Sunray, but this is an accident that never should have happened.