Cheeki Rafiki owner to be prosecuted

The Crown Prosection Service has authorised charges to be brought against Stormforce Coaching and its owner, following the sinking of yacht Cheeki Rafiki with the loss of four lives in 2014

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The Crown Prosection Service has authorised charges to be brought against Stormforce Coaching and its owning, following the sinking of yacht Cheeki Rafiki with the loss of four lives in 2014

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency announced today that it has concluded its  two-year investigation into the circumstances surrounding the loss of the Cheeki Rafiki in May 2014.

Following that extensive investigation, a decision has been made by the Crown Prosecution Service to bring charges against Douglas Innes and Stormforce Coaching Limited.

The four crew of the Cheeki Rafiki were lost in the North Atlantic

The four crew of the Cheeki Rafiki who were lost in the North Atlantic

Ian Harris, from the Crown Prosecution Service Wessex, said:

‘We have authorised the charging of Douglas Innes with four counts of gross negligence manslaughter and Douglas Innes and Stormforce Coaching Limited with one charge contrary to section 100 Merchant Shipping Act 1995.

‘These charges relate to the deaths of Andrew Bridge, James Male, Stephen Warren and Paul Goslin in the North Atlantic in May 2014, following the loss of the keel on their yacht, the Cheeki Rafiki.  The decision to charge was taken in accordance with the Code of Crown Prosecutors.’

Douglas Innes and a representative of Stormforce Coaching Limited will appear at Southampton Magistrates court on the 3 November, 2016.