Patent ID: 8522706

Claim:
A water sports vessel comprising: an operator station located generally amidships between opposing starboard and port sides; a vertical support unit fitted across a beam of the vessel proximate the operator station, the vertical support unit having an upper portion at a height substantially above a level of the operator station, the vertical support adapted for securing a tow rope thereto; a tow rope receiver carried by the upper portion of the vertical support unit for attaching a tow rope thereto and towing a performer therefrom; at least one container onboard the vessel and proximate the starboard and port sides thereof; and an extractor positioned for directing water into the at least one container from a body of water within which the vessel is operating for weighing down a stern of the vessel so at to modify a wake created thereby; wherein the at least one container comprises an enclosed container having an opening therein for venting air thereto; and further comprising a valve operable with the opening for controlling air venting to the at least one container.