Excalibur - Coroner's recommendation

by Viva Goldner on 20 Dec 2005 A NSW Coroner has recommended criminal charges be laid over the deaths of four sailors in the Excalibur yachting disaster.

And the crew member credited with saving the skipper's life should be recognised for his bravery.

Deputy State Coroner Dorelle Pinch made a raft of safety recommendations, concluding an inquest into the September 16, 2002 tragedy off Seal Rocks. Having competed in a week of racing at Hamilton Island, Excalibur was bound for Sydney when it plunged into five metre waves, the inquest was told.

Skipper Brian McDermott, 52, and crew mate John Rogers, 53, were plucked from the Pacific Ocean, pff the NSW mid-north coast after a seven-hour ordeal. Mr McDermott said he lived only because of the support of Mr Rogers - whose bravery Ms Pinch highlighted.

'I didn't consider it bravery ... we were in our survival mode.' Mr Rogers said yesterday.

'The whole event from the time that Brian said the keel had gone, it was only 30, 40 seconds before we were completely immersed.'

The two men were pulled onboard the merchant ship MV Curia. The body of Christopher Heyes, 51, was recovered onboard. Peter McLeod, 51, Anne-Marie Pope, 30, and Tracey Luke, 32, were all lost at sea.

The new $1m vessel had capsized after its keel 'horizontally sheered apart', Ms Pinch said.

The coroner found evidence before her could satisfy a jury that a 'known person' had committed an offence which 'caused the deaths of Ms Pope, Ms Luke, Mr McLeod and Mr Heyes', Ms Pinch said. The matter will be referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions.


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