Skipper in court after Isle of Wight boat crash
An architect from Swindon has appeared in court after several people were seriously injured in a boat crash on the Isle of Wight in September 2022.
Ian Sullivan, 55, first appeared before the courts in Portsmouth in late March to face charges of misconduct of a master or crew likely to endanger ships or structures or individuals – an offence under the Merchant Shipping Act 1995.
He has denied endangering those onboard. Sullivan is now set to appear at Portsmouth Crown Court for trial on 24 April 2023. He has been bailed until that time.
Sullivan is said to have been skippering the luxury powerboat Sully when it ploughed into cliffs at Totland Bay on the evening of 24 September 2022.
According to Yarmouth RNLI, the 30ft motor boat hit the rocks west of Totland Bay, with casualties sustaining multiple injuries.
The incident sparked a huge emergency response from agencies, including the HM Coastguard helicopter, Yarmouth RNLI lifeboat and two Coastguard rescue teams.
Four walking wounded were transferred and taken to safety. The Coastguard Rescue helicopter flew two people to the mainland for treatment.
Sullivan is accused of failing to maintain a proper lookout and failing to proceed at a safe speed to take proper and effective action to avoid a collision.
A member of the community boating Facebook group Solent Boating has shared a recent photo of the vessel, which is yet to be salvaged and is still located on the rocks where it crashed seven months ago.
![Maiden finish in Southampton 1990 Credit Andrew Sassoli Walkjer[3]](https://ezpwv2pzpic.exactdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Maiden-finish-in-Southampton-1990-Credit-Andrew-Sassoli-Walkjer3-300x226.jpg?strip=all&lossy=1&ssl=1)
A lot of folk take ribs and boats at high speed to a popular restaurant near Colwell Bay and probably are worse for wear on their equally high speed return to Lymington. Speeding boats have been fined returning to the river at night.