Sailboat slams into speedboat

[Hammer01]

Sad part is regardless of the alcohol, the speedboat whether we like it or not has to yield the right of way to the blowboater when he is not under power and it seems as though the sails were up. Most of the BB on lake Michigan have no less than the large mast lights lit up. At the end of the day, he may have been guilty of a DUI but unfortunately a sailboat normally can not run into a speeding V-Bottom. I don't like the rules scued to the BB's but that is the way the law reads. Seems like a large case of BS and throwing a badge but no matter what this goes down in the books again as boating late at night and not be defensive enough of a driver on either part. The alcohol prob did not cause the accident but surely did not help the situation nor the possible judgement on Nav lights regardless. Hope it turns out for the best.

 

[Wobble]

Boatus has an interview with Bismarck Dinius after the trial

The Trial of Bismarck Dinius
Seaworthy Interviews Dinius and his Attorney, Victor Haltom

In August, 2008 “A Strange Case of Justice,” Seaworthy told the story of Bismarck Dinius, who had been at the helm of a 27-foot sailboat on California’s Clear Lake when it was struck from behind on a still, moonless night by a 24-foot Baja that was being operated by Russell Perdock, the number two man in the local Sheriff’s Department. The Baja ramped completely over the sailboat; all five people aboard suffered injuries, ranging from bruises to broken bones and concussions. A few days later, the sailboat owner’s 51-year-old girlfriend, Lynn Thornton, died as the result of her injuries. The sailboat was insured through the BoatU.S. Marine Insurance program.

Dinius, who was found to have a BAC of .12, was charged with involuntary manslaughter, which, shortly before the trial, was changed to felony boating under the influence causing great bodily injury. Perdock has never been charged. Nor was the sailboat’s owner, who was also aboard.

it continues here

http://www.boatus.com/seaworthy/justice2.asp