Tragedy at the Columbus Day Regatta
Thousands of party goers gather in Biscayne Bay off Miami to celebrate the annual Columbus Day Regatta. The event has been affectionately called the "Mardi Gras on Water" by many. Indeed, it is a fun event and a beautiful sight.
The Columbus Day Regatta traditionally takes place on the Sunday and Monday of Columbus Day Weekend. Hundreds of boats typically race down to Elliot Key on Sunday, and stay there over night. They all then race back on Monday.
It has a rich tradition that spans over 50 years. Part of that rich tradition includes the Duke of Verangua, Cristobal Colon, direct descendant of Columbus, granting the Columbus Day Cruising Regatta Club permission to fly the coat of arms of the original Columbus as a club emblem during the Columbus Day Regatta. And they have been doing so every year since 1960.
The Regatta is for sailboats but there are also motor boats who join the festivities. Especially the partying that has become synonymous with the Columbus Day Regatta. At Elliot Key, on the night of the race, there is always a party and it can get wild. As you can imagine there is sometimes some drinking and driving of motorboats.
And given all that partying that goes on during the Columbus Day Regatta it should come as no surprise that many are often injured during the Regatta.
Alcohol, partying and motor boats could be a lethal combination.
Three people were killed in boating accidents in 2002 and two college students died in a two-boat crash that severely injured seven others in 2006. In 2006, a rental boat had broken down, and was being towed. While it was being towed, it was struck, at a high rate of speed, by a 35 foot power boat. The collision caused the wrongful deaths of two of the boaters and many other were injured.
Tragedy has unfortunately occurred again at this year's Columbus Day Regatta. A 45 year old male fell off a yacht and was pulled under the vessel. He then got caught in the yacht's propellers. He died as a result of this fall.
When accidents do occur on the water with any kind of motorboats, yachts, Jet Skis, Wave Runners, sailboats, commercial vessels including tankers, freighters, cruise ships, and any other vessel or boat, maritime law applies. This is a specialized area of the law. For this type of case, you need a maritime lawyer who handles personal injuries.
