Eau Claire Lakes Topics: Near Miss Sunday 8/31

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	Name:	DSCR -
	Subject:	Near Miss Sunday 8/31
	Date:	9/1/2008 10:51:21 AM

Now that I am cooled off, I share this with ya'll, primarily to vent, but also as a reminder to watch out for idiots.

As you know, Sunday started out "iffy" and was windy and rough all day. I turned out pretty nice, but still windy and rough. We mostly cleaned and cooked, waiting for the small crowd to gather.

We had pretty much decided to not go out, but some friends from Atlanta showed up, and we hated to send them home without a ride. Plus, I figured that sometimes folks need to get what they asked for, even if it is windy and rough.

So, I guess around 5'ish, before the storm passed from the east, we set out to ride to the rock and back.

Our place is on the North End, part of my view is Grave Yard Island. We head South, pass between Young's Is. and the little one. Still lots of folks out, and lots headed North from the Rock area. We ease along about 30 mph or so, its's pretty rough from wind and wake. No issues.

We make the turn at the Ridge and the port turn in front of Russell successfully and without incident. We finally arrive at the Rock to show our guests what some folks do. The area is still crowded, but clearing. The wind pushes us South. We watch a few jumps and back out to leave. The ride was the point.

As we head back North, it is crowded and we are following a loaded "Ski Tique". We keep our distance, I could pass but what's the hurry. We are going at slow plane, maybe 15 to 20 mph. To our starboard is a short, tall cruiser with top controls, I don't know what to call that style of boat. The "Tique and I are passing to port with plenty of room as the cruiser slows.

In my mirror, I see a hull flash from starboard to port. The guy comes from the cruiser's starboard, cuts right behind and across my wake, hauling *ss, way too fast for conditions, traffic and his almost overloaded condition. He swings out to port and could have easily passed me and the Tique to port, there was room. But NOOO, this guy could only drive in straight lines and I see him steer to starboard, back toward us. He is WFO, and cuts starboard between me and the Tique. I see him coming and roll off throttle. Again, I am not crowding the Tique, but there ain't room for "Idiot" to safely do this. He blasts through us all and heads North in a straight line, not caring who is in the way.

In the moment, I didn't catch the boat brand, but I think it was a big runabout. If it was not overloaded, it was close. There must have been 12 or 15 people on board. It had a large motor to be able to create that much havoc, in those conditions and loaded like it was. The idiot endangered the 8 folks in my boat(rated for 12), the loaded "Ski Tique", and the tall cruiser, all in about 30 or 40 seconds. God knows how many others had to give way to avoid a near miss with this idiot.

As we headed north, the Tique turned into Blue Creek and I followed the channel and didn't turn port by the ridge. The Idiot turned port by the Ridge. Staying in the channel is calmer and quicker than the western route, so I knew I would catch him and I was only running 35 to 40 mph. Not too fast for conditions in my boat.

As I came around the island, staying in the channel, yup, there he was still booking north, too fast and blowing spray 25 feet in the air as he hit rough water. I fell in behind him and used his wake to close the gap. I followed him past Pleasure point and he made the turn into Sandy Creek.

I was HOTT and really wanted an altercation, or at least to follow him to his port of call, but I had kids on the boat and headed in to avoid the potential ugliness. This was one of the greatest acts of restraint I have ever performed. Now, I am a laid back fellow, and don't pick fights, but if you endanger me or mine, watch your back.

I don't know if this Idiot has a place on the lake, or was visiting, but watch for an idiot who cares not about courtesy, safety or rules of the road.

This Idiot happened to be of African American descent, was driving a large runabout with black on the side, and had the boat loaded with his large entourage. He was driving into Sandy Creek at prox 5:30 to 6:00 on Sunday Aug 31.

I doubt this Idiot is on this or any forum, the Idiots usually aren't. But if you do happen to be on here "sir", you are the worst excuse for a boat driver I have ever seen. You need to be BANNED from all waterways and probably the roads. If you haven't killed anyone yet, you will.

There, vent over.