Assuming the boat owned by Beneteau was in the Annapolis Sailboat Show, there were no injuries per reports as all four sailors were rescued. I will be speaking from the standpoint as a sailboat dealer or helping other dealers attending the Annapolis Shows for over 30 years and as a former insurance investigator handling litigation, I will make a few comments. My question was a thought provoking question. As a former investigator, I would err on the side of the details if ever posted plus no injuries; thus the likely hood of any litigation is near non existent. However, how much responsibility is that of any skipper. We can suspect many things but until the details are in, I will not blame anyone.
However, questions must be asked to include who rigged the boat and the responsibility of that rigger and his company, who owned the boat at the time, who was being paid to bring the boat down and by whom, were the crew experienced and/or did something to cause the demasting, was this due to faulty equipment, who was responsible for inspecting the boat before that trip and if none, why, and finally was this an act of God? There are other questions but when a boat goes offshore, the captain of the ship is the overall responsible person for the safety of his crew and passengers as he is paid as a trained experienced expert.
I look forward to hearing what caused the demasting and until then will reserve any comments on blame.
However, questions must be asked to include who rigged the boat and the responsibility of that rigger and his company, who owned the boat at the time, who was being paid to bring the boat down and by whom, were the crew experienced and/or did something to cause the demasting, was this due to faulty equipment, who was responsible for inspecting the boat before that trip and if none, why, and finally was this an act of God? There are other questions but when a boat goes offshore, the captain of the ship is the overall responsible person for the safety of his crew and passengers as he is paid as a trained experienced expert.
I look forward to hearing what caused the demasting and until then will reserve any comments on blame.