Below is a news account of an accident that happened on nearby Lake Travis over the Labor Day week end. While it seems the sailboat may be at fault for not having navigation lights, I somehow doubt they would have helped (Investigators say alcohol was a factor). However, a very bright halogen flashlight might well have helped (double underline might). This story isn't totally accurate -- one person from the sailboat was taken to hospital, treated and released. They suffered minor injuries when the mast came down on top of them.
------------------------------ Two unidentified people were taken to Brackenridge Hospital with minor injuries after a powerboat ran into a sailboat shortly before midnight Friday in the Graveyard Point area of Lake Travis. The 28-foot sailboat was drifting when the 24-foot powerboat struck it, Lower Colorado River Authority spokeswoman Krista Umscheid-Mt. Joy said. She said the sailboat had its mast light on -- a light used when motoring -- but had no navigation lights illuminated. The National Weather Service said the moon was in its last quarter at the time of the accident, but clouds covered most of the sky. Umscheid-Mt. Joy said the male driver of the powerboat said he didn't see the sailboat until it was too late. He suffered a broken nose, bruised neck and minor cuts. He was airlifted to Brackenridge and was released by mid-morning Saturday. A woman in the powerboat was taken to Brackenridge by ambulance for minor injuries and was also released. Umscheid-Mt. Joy didn't say how many people were in the sailboat, but no one from that craft was taken to a hospital. _______________________________________________ http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats
