Douglas Innes, the director of the firm that managed the Cheeki Rafiki yacht which capsized in 2014, has been has been charged with four counts of gross negligence manslaughter.
The yacht was found with no sign of its crew on May 20th, 2014, four days after reporting that it was in serious difficulties. Its life raft was still on board. Andrew Bridge, who was skipper, Steve Warren, Paul Goslin and James Male, lost their lives.
Mr Innes will appear at Southampton Magistrates’ Court on 3 November. He and Stormforce Coaching are also charged with breaking merchant shipping laws.
The Beneteau 40.7 Cheeky Rafiki had been returning to Southampton from Antigua Sailing Week when it capsized about 720m east-south-east of Nova Scotia..