Doug Innes retrial

Cheeki Rafiki’s owner Douglas Ian Innes is currrently facing a retrial on four counts of manslaughter at Winchester Crown Court.

Andrew Bridge 22 (Skipper), James Male 22, Steve Warren 52, and Paul Goslin 56 all lost their lives when the Beneteau 40.7 lost its keel and capsized 700 miles east of Nova Scotia while on a return trip from Antigua Sailing Week to Southampton in May 2014. None of the bodies of the crew were found.

In July last year Innes and his company Stormforce Coaching were found guilt of failing to ensure the safety of the yacht, but the jury of 11 were unable to reach verdicts on the four manslaughter charges against Innes and so were discharged. See our report at the time:   HERE

The retrial is centring on matters like Innes not re-coding the vessel – an ommission cited as a cost saving measure in court.

The court has heard:
That Innes permitted Cheeki Rafiki to sail to Antigua to be raced hard knowing its sailing code permit was about to expire.

Despite making contact with two surveyors in the Caribbean, to get the vessel recoded, he chose not to have the yacht inspected to save costs.

“Despite all reminders, Mr Innes either turned a blind eye or decided to ignore the need to have Cheeki Rafiki inspected,” Nigel Lickley QC

“For whatever reason, he disregarded the duty imposed on him to take care of those on the yacht.”

Innes denies knowing the extent of previous damage to the sinking vessel, admitting to knowing of only one incident before he was charged with manslaughter. The trial continues.

Court report in: Daily Mail article

Main photo: Innes, by PA

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