Please select your home edition
Edition
Exposure Marine

British sailor's collision with 120,000 tanker comes to court

by Sail-World Cruising on 12 Oct 2013
Cowes Week collision between yacht Atlanta and tanker - photos by Herbert Westervelt SW
Remember these photos? A British sailor whose 2011 collision with the 120,000 tanker Hanne Knutsen was flashed around the world garnering almost a million viewers, not to mention the 100,000 crowd watching from the shore, is currently being prosecuted in Southampton Court.

On August 6 2011, Royal Navy lieutenant Roland Wilson attempted to sail his Irish-registered Corby 33 yacht, Atlanta of Chester, with eight crew on board, in front of a 120,000-ton tanker Hanne Knutsen, while off Egypt Point on the Isle of Wight.

They didn't make it. The yacht was nearly rolled under the bow and was dismasted when the pink spinnaker wrapped on the ship's anchor. The dramatic sequence was captured by the camera of a quick-thinking Herbert Westervelt.

Fortunately there were no fatalities but one of the eight crew sustained a head injury. Two were overboard, picked up by rescue crews.

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) are prosecuting Lt Wilson in Southampton Magistrates Court. The prosecutor, Simon Row read the charges.

Lt Wilson contravened three Colregs:

Rule 5; He did not keep an adequate lookout.

Rule 9b; He impeded a large vessel in a narrow channel.

Rule 18; He impeded a vessel constrained by its draft.

Additionally he is accused of breaching Rule 7 by failing to adequately determine a risk of collision and Rule 8d as his actions did not result in his vessel passing a safe distance from the ship.

Southampton bylaws prohibit small vessels from entering a moving prohibited zone surrounding large ships passing through the central Solent.

The defence is claiming that the sound signals given by the ship were confusing and that the actions of Lt Wilson were not negligent.

The court was told that as the ship came around the corner by Cowes it turned to port to follow the coastline down. Just before it got to the Gurnard buoy the ship sounded its horn to indicate going starboard but had to slow the turn because a disabled 35ft Sealine motor cruiser, Joy C, was in its path. The cruiser had lost steerage and one engine. This slowing of the turn meant that the yacht could not get in front of the ship and the collision occurred.

Yesterday, the court was given evidence from crews of the Southampton Harbour escort boat, the Spitfire 1. They all said they had attended the disabled Joy C and that they had warned the yacht in 'robust language' that a ship was approaching.

A Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) spokesman said at the time: 'Two people were thrown overboard by the collision. The Marine Accident Investigation Branch and the MCA duty surveyor have been informed. The tanker continued to its destination at Fawley and the yacht has been towed to the UKSA berths at Cowes.'

The Rhib (rigid-hulled inflatable boat) Vigilant took one of the crew back to shore for medical attention whilst the Southampton Patrol Boat and Hamble Rescue took the second crew member who had suffered a gash to his head to a waiting ambulance at Trinity Pontoon for transport to Newport Hospital. He was later reported to have been discharged.

The trial is continuing...
Sea Sure 2025Palm Beach Motor YachtsTrofeo Princesa Sofía Mallorca 2025

Related Articles

Offshore Special Regulations Lighting Guide
Released by Exposure Marine ahead of the Rolex Fastnet Race Exposure Marine has launched a dedicated Offshore Special Regulations Lighting Guide to support sailing enthusiasts and offshore racers—particularly those preparing for this year's Rolex Fastnet Race.
Posted today at 11:00 am
Zhik expands Danish Sailing Team partnership
Continuing for another four years as Official Technical Apparel Supplier Zhik, global leader in high-performance water wear, is proud to announce its partnership with the Danish Sailing Team will continue for another four years, as Official Technical Apparel Supplier through to the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.
Posted today at 9:52 am
Biotherm set for The Ocean Race Europe
Paul Meilhat assembles a team of winners for the event A little over three months after securing 5th place in the Vendée Globe, Paul Meilhat is preparing to set sail for new horizons.
Posted today at 9:42 am
Paul Whiting: Tribute to top designer
A tribute is being held for one of New Zealand's leading designers, Paul Whiting. The Paul Whiting Tribute is being held at the Ponsonby Cruising Club on Thursday May 15 2025. The Whiting designed and built "Taranui 3" (the plug for the Whiting 47) and the mighty "Magic Bus" will be on display right outside the club.
Posted today at 1:05 am
Excellent condition at Sailing League Championship
Ethan Doyle and San Francisco Yacht Club Team qualify for finals in Kiel, Germany St. Francis YC hosted the second year of the US Sailing League West Coast Championship, an offshoot of the SAILING Champions League, an international high-level club vs. club fleet racing circuit that's been held in Europe and Australia since 2014.
Posted today at 12:12 am
New Maxi Edmond de Rothschild gears towards flight
The future 32-metre giant is gradually taking shape, a day at a time In December 2023, Ariane de Rothschild officially announced the start of construction for a new oceanic maxi-trimaran designed to venture ever further along the path towards offshore flight initiated by her predecessor, Gitana 17.
Posted on 5 May
iQFOiL Youth & Junior International Games Preview
Over 200 athletes from 23 nations gather at Lake Garda following a high-level Coppa Italia opener The international iQFOiL Class is surging into the 2025 season with record participation and growing global engagement.
Posted on 5 May
2025 Yachting Cup at San Diego YC overall
Awarding 7 class winners along with the overall award to J/24 Wharf Rat Day 2 of SDYC's Yachting Cup started with a bit of rain and overcast coastal skies. The race management team was concerned about the forecast conditions - specifically the sea state, which built as a result of an overnight offshore front.
Posted on 5 May
The Stop-Start SailGP Season So Far
Season 5 of SailGP has already had more than its fair share of drama and excitement Season 5 of SailGP has already had more than its fair share of drama and excitement, and is currently on pause ahead of the Mubadala New York Sail Grand Prix, which is set to take place on 7th & 8th June.
Posted on 5 May
An evening honouring the Vendée Globe heroes
On Saturday, May 10, Les Sables d'Olonne will once again come alive to celebrate On Saturday, May 10, Les Sables d'Olonne will once again come alive to celebrate the epic journey of the Vendée Globe and pay tribute to the skippers of the 2024 edition, during a spectacular evening filled with emotion and festivity.
Posted on 5 May