Sunsail Court Case

See also http://www.lrmt.co.uk/Laura_Rose_News/Laura_Rose_Morgan_News _PDF/Sunsail_employees_charged_with_manslaughter.pdf

and http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,,1736560,00. html

I find it hard to comment from the limited information available. It is noticeable that it was the staff in charge on the day who found themselves in the dock. Typically these are quite lowly paid individuals enjoying a season working in the sun. I wonder what policy guidance they had received from Sunsail? 

On reading those articles, it seems that only the individuals have been punished. Wouldn't this be a corporate manslaughter case in the UK? Maybe Greek law is different. Anyone know?

Yeah that was my main question when I first read it, would  amast head float have helped. I know it would have on a mono hull but I dont know enough about cats to decide.

I do think that sun sail should have taken some of the stick because the empolyees may have been following procedure exactly. (but may not have its very hard ot tell)

i was on a beach holiday about a month after this happened with a different company and i know they were fitting floatation bags at the top of the halyards on all the cats and bigger boats!

i do wonder what the effects will be on the beach clubs, i do hope it is not the reduction of cats!

This is an extraordinary case. The hotel staff were found negligent in 'ensuring the girl sailed with adults' implying that this is the Greeks legal president over ensuring suitable ability or rescue cover. I don't doubt the inherent danger involved in watersports was considered by the judge who gave it no mention.

As somebody mentioned, in the UK that would be a 'corporate' responsibility, for which -following the Lyme Bay incident- all operators are insured for (or should I say: insured to cover hysterical parents compensation claims). This insurance is one of the reasons it is more cost effective to do such things in Greece. The ruling might have much to do with the Greek authorities wanting to protect this foreign business interest....... just speculation.

The incident will have no bearing on the UK situation but it is worth remembering, if you like your kids, you wouldn't let them go rock climbing/horse riding (incidentally the statistically dangerous thing you can do)/caving/etc without any proven experience on their own....... so why is sailing any different.