WTH caused the parade boats to sink in nice weather in Lake Travis?

[DandyDon]

At Least 4 Boats Sink During ‘Trump Boat Parade’ in Texas

They were parading at 10 mph, skies were clear with 10 mph breezes, so what started this?

This looks like something happened...

 

[JackOfDiamonds]

If i'd have to judge solely based on the image and the little information provided on the article i would imagine the conditions were not as good as they anticipated and some of the smaller boats couldn't handle the waves.

 

[Ana]

Definetly doesn't look like seas created by a 10mph "breeze"
Also it is usually safe to assume many boats go overloaded to similar events.

 

[Mark Archer]

At Least 4 Boats Sink During ‘Trump Boat Parade’ in Texas

They were parading at 10 mph, skies were clear with 10 mph breezes, so what started this?

This looks like something happened...

View attachment 609937

Probably not the sharpest tool in the shed

 

[lexvil]

Stupid and water don’t mix well, a wake board bout can whip up waves like that (or any deep hull boat) in a flash, or the weather wasn’t a nice as reported.

 

[DandyDon]

Those are good guesses. Additionally, if a rogue wave developed and the boats were parading in the wrong direction to deal with it, that would make it dangerous. We're guessing tho. I wondered if anyone knew?

 

[MichaelMc]

The boat going away from them is much bigger, seems to have passed close to them going the opposite direction, has a fair bit of red attire including a hat, and does not seem to be looking behind them at the effect they had on those in the smaller boat.

From the article: “We had an exceptional number of boats on the lake today,” she said. “When they all started moving at the same time, it generated significant waves.”

Though multiple 3’ flags on 20’ poles above a small boat not designed as a sailboat does not seem a great idea. Quoting from that pictures caption: "Owners of boats of “all shapes and sizes” were encouraged to participate and to decorate their craft with “as many Trump flags” as possible at the event in Lake Travis in Texas, a Facebook page said."

 

[Lostdiver71]

It was caused by the boat wakes from the larger vessels, it is a common problem with large vessels in smaller body of water.

 

[apenland01]

Those are definitely wake boat wakes, or much larger vessels in the water. If look beyond the wakes towards the opposite shore, the water is calm. That leads me to believe a bunch of boats or larger boats going in a "parade" caused a washing machine situation.

I have a 21 foot bass boat and those conditions have to be carefully managed. When it gets a little windy and there's lots of wake boats on the water, I generally head in for the day...

 

[DandyDon]

Though multiple 3’ flags on 20’ poles above a small boat not designed as a sailboat does not seem a great idea.

Yeah, that could add to the problem.

I'm still amazed that four sank.