terrible thing to see!

some people just should not own a boat like that!!!!

This is a perfect example of why people should take the safe boating course PRIOR to getting behind the wheel! I hope they know just how lucky they are to be alive!

To the two previous comments. I know the operator of this boat at the time of the accident. He has plenty of experience running performance boats as well as owning them. Know all the facts before you make ignorant comments.

They may sound like ignorant comments to you but the facts are that he should not have been going that fast.

Whoa Scotty!!!! Chill dude. They ARE lucky to be alive. They took their performance boat and drove way too fast for conditions because THEY were ignorant!!!! Thank God you're not attending their funerals this week.

Were you there?

ig·no·rant (Lacking knowledge, information, or awareness about something in particular) The definition above is why I said the comments were ignorant. Let the facts come out first before making comments about the people on board. I know how fast they were going and also know there may have been a mechanical failure.

I think this accident would not have happened if the owner had been driving and the local expert had been navigating.

To Gloria and Sheila next time read the article thoroughly before you flap your gums.

New moniker?

yo scott w,let me tell u what happened here ok,mr rich went out and bought a new boat,went out for some show offing,he let his wife or girlfriend get behind the wheel at 80 mph and turned way to sharply and put the bow dead under and rolled it,wa-la

Nice salvage by TowBoatUS Captains John Ryan and Bodin.

http://shamrockmarinetowing.com/index2.html

Let's face it. There should be a speed limit in the bay. I witnessed a similar accident back in the 70's from our dock at 4th st and the bay and in that one a person died. It was a seemingly calm evening but a wake from a sportfishing boat going in the opposite direction caused a cigarette boat to go airborne and capsize ejecting all 3 passengers. One of them died when he was struck by the prop. The bay is not the place for high speed craft to go at full throttle.

I second the fact that "Todd Duran" is uninformed and yes..... Ignorant by definition

Best wishes to all hurt on that boat....

Next time anyone of you "experts" are driving at "any speed" and a deer jumps out in front of you and/or you blow out a tire...... I would hope that 1) you survive a horrific experience and 2) the ignorant, hating commenters don't persecute you..... Get well Bobby

Things float in the water... Flo. Hard and Hard to see things. I've encountered pilings ( that's basically a telephone pole Flo just in case you werent aware) floating in the bay and even the ocean. These are the types of things that could "metaphorically" jump out. Also Flo, I doubt the person who wrote the article or the witness that "saw" it from land would have seen it...... And maybe the rescue or police didn't note it because that kinda stuff continues to flow, Flo. I'm not saying that is what caused this tragedy. All I'm saying is that we, as readers, should not judge unless we were there and in their shoes.

spoken like a true democrat

They were going too fast period. Thank God they are all alive and hopefully they and others will learn from it. Stop defending a wrong.

How quick we are to judge. 'Mr. Rich's' daugther has read all of these nasty comments and can't sleep at night she is so upset. Ladies - go kiss your husbands - mine is still in the hospital for his injuries that were reported as 'not serious' by the aritcle that you all believe is 100% accurate. Accidents happen. Please - go find another hobby - besides bashing someones husband and father - Sherri Gendelman

Sherri, I am soo sorry to hear! People are ignorant and will say anything before kowing the facts. They are not worth giving a response to! Our thoughts and prayers are with bobby and your family!

You know what people, lets just get real for a moment. First, NOONE is "happy" that ANYONE on that boat got injured, okay. So lets not discuss ignorance. Assuming THAT or interpreting that from at the very least my comment, in my opinion, IS ignorant. And second, anyone who thinks driving or riding in a "Cigarette Boat" is lazy drift down the stream, doesn't have a clue what cigarette boats were built for...........speed. Fact remains the boat was going fast, and had an "accident" and people were,sadly, injured. I still maintain that safe boating courses are a must, AND THAT THE PEOPLE ENVOLVED SHOULD APPRECIATE THAT THEY ARE ALIVE.

They should have their mid life crisis in the ocean and not the bay.

I think that many of these comments are ignorant because they are based on assumptions. All of these men have taken the boating safety course. Which if you are at all familiar with it is several hours of basic boating safety, navigation and rules of boating. Then you take your test and get your certificate. Just as people take driving courses and have accidents and pilots take courses and crash, It does not guarentee that you will not have an accident. Robert has over 35 years boating experience and the other two men are also experienced boaters. This was not their first time on a speed boat. Some Cigarettes can go over 100 MPH - if they wanted to cruise they would have been on a Searay. Oh and Todd - Tracey is a man. Davey - did their 'midlife' crisis personally affect you? Other then Love Boat reruns - how many of you have any boating experience or have even been on a boat?

Been there, done that, on at 34 ft sail baot coming thru the inlet in Boca Raton into the intercoastal, during a storm. I know what an "accident" is, and I know it was only the hand of God that brought me thru that inlet. Stand by my statements. Glad Tracy took the safe boating courses and believe with all my heart, that that, and God were the only only reasons they went to the hospital and not the morgue. What exactly is your arguement with me?????

Not just you, Gloria. I feel that a lot of the comments were based on assumptions not fact. I addressed several of them in my post. I feel that his character and the character of the men in the accident are being attacked. I am dealing with a husband who is still in the hospital and yes he could have been killed. He not only took the boating course, but also the safe motorcycle course. But accidents happen. It wasn't a midlife crisis, he has owned boats his entire life. He wasn't impressing a woman. They were testing out a speed boat. As you you know speed boats and sail boats are totally different. I am spending 12 hours a day at the hospital - stressed out enough and then come home to see these comments. How would you feel if this was your husband or son and people were posting this?

I'd stop reading. Personally I think you missed everyones point and fueled the fire with your comments. Face it , the boat didn't just flip over. It happened as a result of going too fast for the conditions. We all do it. We do it in cars and boats but very few " traditional" power boats flip over UNLESS they are going too fast for conditions. We are all very happy that your husband is ALIVE, we are not trying to stress you out. 35 ears of boating does not make you immune from a casualty. Take tour high performance boat with it's obnoxious muffler and go to the high seas in the right conditions. Have fun, flip us the bird and enjoy yourself. I wish nothing but the best for your entire family. Take care and don't put the fire out with gasoline.

Know what Sherri? I'm willing to bet that 99% of us ARE on your side. God bless you both in your healing time, and keep you stong. But understand that #1 we mostly all know that cigarette boats (especially those of us from Miami! lol) know what "Cigarette Boats" are all about. And #2,accept that your husband, obviously has a "need for speed"! That he understands the risks of what he is doing, and #3, that it's a choice that he makes, you and your love and your relationship not withstandinding! We aren't juding that. We're judging the wisdom of a Cigarette Boat flying over the bay waters. To quote the article Mr. Hartman, an insturctor from the OC Yacht Club, and be, for the most part accurate, "took a sharp turn towards Somers Point.He said the turn buried the bow of the boat and it "barrel rolled" sideways, dumping the three passengers on the first spin and sending parts of the boat flying on the second spin". God bless Tracy, and you, and all envolved!
But why is it so difficult to simply say................"I am so sorry, I messed up, and it hurt pepople. Let me share my lesson with those of you who will listen...."??

Well said Gloria.

Everyone here that doesn't kow these men certainally has way too much time to speak about the misfortunes of others. I can't imagine why the hell anyone would even post a comment here unless they knew 1 or all three of the men involved. I'm only responding because I personally know and respect Bob as a advanced "performance" boater. It's not even the point of "ignorance" it's more like that you all do not have a life. Maybe all you people need a "mid-life crisis" to get out of life's funk that you're all jammed into. All of you whom have found comfort and companionship defending eachothers obnoxious comments should all get together and have a group mid-life crisis ........or simply wallow in eachothers sea of tears and misery. Facts are facts a bad accident happened! I'd be willing to bet that no matter the bay conditions something extraordinary probably ocurred in order for this accident to happen, ie; mechanical failure, an avoidance maneuver.....Whether that's the case or not. may God bless your family Sherri.