Accountants sunk!

Ernst and Young-chartered Sunsail yacht heads for Davey Jones' locker during weekend regatta

This unwelcome sight (above) occurred at the weekend in the Solent's North Channel, during a Sunsail laid-on regatta for Ernst and Young. The yacht was part of a 40 strong Sunsail regatta for the giant accountancy firm who had staff members from around the country on each of the yachts.

The sinking of the yacht occurred during racing on Saturday, when a starboard tack boat hit another on port.

Ernst and Young have their own sailing club and many of the yachts taking part in the regatta were skippered by their own staff, while the remainder had Sunsail skippers in charge. Brigit Cunningham of Sunsail told thedailysail that the yacht sunk was Ernst and Young-skippered and the skipper was “fine and had over and above the required mileage” to take charge of the yacht. The starboard tacked boat had a Sunsail skipper on board.

Initially the crew were unaware of the fate that was about to befall them and carried on sailing until realising that a large amount of water was coming in. “Solent Coastguard was informed by the crew and the Gosport and Fareham inshore rescue RIB and the Coastguard helicopter were allocated to the rescue. Six crew were taken off by the helicopter and the skipper went onto the RIB,” said Cunningham.

All the crew were unharmed in the incident, but lost all their possessions when the yacht went down.

According to Cunningham the weather was “a blustery force five” at the time of the sinking around 1pm. At 2pm on Saturday this reporter was crossing the Solent at Calshot Spit with the true wind speed peaking at 34 knots.

In accordance with protocol the sinking was reported within 24 hours by Sunsail to the MCA, the Maritime Accident Investigation Branch and the RYA.

Sunsail operate charters for 50 weeks of the year on the Solent and says Cunningham this is the “first time in 13 years we have ever lost a boat.”

The crew of accountants on the stricken yacht may have lost their phones and wallets, but they certainly have a good story to tell back in the office.

The yacht has since been recovered.