Ouzo verdict: RYA response 

Yacht Ouzo departed for Dartmouth, Devon on the evening of 20 August 2006. She was lost South of the Isle of Wight with three crewmembers whose bodies were recovered from the sea some time later. No wreckage of the yacht has been recovered.

The MAIB (Marine Accident Investigation Branch) report into the incident, published on 12 April 2007 concluded that the most likely explanation for the loss of the yacht and her three crew was that she was overwhelmed and swamped by the bow wave or struck by the hull of the P&O ferry Pride of Bilbao

RYA response to the verdict in the trial of Michael Hubble, watch officer, P&O s Pride of Bilbao in relation to the deaths of Rupert Saunders, James Meaby and Jason Downer of the yacht Ouzo , August 2006

Following a six week trial the Second Officer of the Pride of Bilbao, Michael Hubble, was found not guilty of three counts of manslaughter and not guilty of engaging in conduct as a seaman likely to cause death or serious injury (pursuant to Section 58 of the Merchant Shipping Act 1995).

Rod Carr Chief Executive of the RYA commented: First and foremost our condolences go to the family and friends of the three yachtsmen. However, the verdict does not detract from the important lessons that must be learnt from this tragic incident and the need to improve procedures across the whole maritime community.

Rod continued: Following the accident, the MAIB (Marine Accident Investigation Branch) produced a report containing advice and recommendations both to commercial ships and to recreational yachts. The RYA has worked hard to communicate the relevant advice and recommendations to the recreational boating community and we hope that the commercial shipping industry will also embrace the MAIB s proposals.

The RYA will continue to work with Government and the commercial shipping industry to ensure that, as far as possible tragedies such as Ouzo are avoided in the future and the RYA will continue to promote its educational message in this regard.