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| Cardiff Bay Yacht Club fined £40,000 over boat crash | Cardiff Bay Yacht Club fined £40,000 over boat crash |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A sailing club has been fined £40,000 after two motor boats crashed in Cardiff Bay, leaving a schoolgirl brain damaged. | A sailing club has been fined £40,000 after two motor boats crashed in Cardiff Bay, leaving a schoolgirl brain damaged. |
| Cardiff Crown Court heard the boats from Cardiff Bay Yacht Club were carrying 13 girls when they collided in the darkness in 2010. | Cardiff Crown Court heard the boats from Cardiff Bay Yacht Club were carrying 13 girls when they collided in the darkness in 2010. |
| The girls were thrown into the water and some, including an 11-year-old who had a severe head injury, were hurt. | The girls were thrown into the water and some, including an 11-year-old who had a severe head injury, were hurt. |
| The club admitted two charges of breaching the Merchant Shipping Act. | The club admitted two charges of breaching the Merchant Shipping Act. |
| The court heard the boats - one carrying more passengers than it should have done - were speeding without navigation lights, radios and without any risk assessment being made. | The court heard the boats - one carrying more passengers than it should have done - were speeding without navigation lights, radios and without any risk assessment being made. |
| The yacht club was also ordered to pay £14,400 costs. | The yacht club was also ordered to pay £14,400 costs. |
| Its chief instructor, Nicholas Sawyer, 56, who admitted aiding and abetting the club, was ordered to pay £13,400 costs and undertake 180 hours of community work. | |
| The court was told the drivers were instructors on a residential course in 2010. | The court was told the drivers were instructors on a residential course in 2010. |
| They were returning the girls to their lodgings after an ice skating trip when the two boats crashed. | They were returning the girls to their lodgings after an ice skating trip when the two boats crashed. |
| Prosecutor Oliver Willmott said: "This was a journey taken in the dark and taken by a vessel with no navigation lights. | Prosecutor Oliver Willmott said: "This was a journey taken in the dark and taken by a vessel with no navigation lights. |
| 'Wrong-headed decision' | 'Wrong-headed decision' |
| "It was not merely a breach of regulations but it was against all common sense and good seamanship. | "It was not merely a breach of regulations but it was against all common sense and good seamanship. |
| "The two drivers were not qualified to drive at night but they were asked to undertake a journey by a man they trusted - their training coach. | "The two drivers were not qualified to drive at night but they were asked to undertake a journey by a man they trusted - their training coach. |
| "The standards fell short of the relevant standard and those exposed were vulnerable children." | "The standards fell short of the relevant standard and those exposed were vulnerable children." |
| Sawyer's lawyer Christian du Cann told the court that he was one of the world's leading coaches of children. | Sawyer's lawyer Christian du Cann told the court that he was one of the world's leading coaches of children. |
| He said: "He made a wrong-headed decision and jeopardised his future career. He cannot understand why he did it - there was no excuse. | He said: "He made a wrong-headed decision and jeopardised his future career. He cannot understand why he did it - there was no excuse. |
| "It was an isolated one-off lapse of judgement for which he apologises." | "It was an isolated one-off lapse of judgement for which he apologises." |
| 'Dim view' | 'Dim view' |
| The two girl drivers were cleared of offences under the Merchant Shipping Act at an earlier hearing. | The two girl drivers were cleared of offences under the Merchant Shipping Act at an earlier hearing. |
| Judge Neil Bidder said: "It was fortunate that no-one died. The risk to the girls was obvious and both defendants fell far short of the proper standards." | Judge Neil Bidder said: "It was fortunate that no-one died. The risk to the girls was obvious and both defendants fell far short of the proper standards." |
| After the hearing, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) said it "takes a very dim view of the actions of Cardiff Bay Yacht Club and Nicholas Sawyer and their attitude to safety". | After the hearing, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) said it "takes a very dim view of the actions of Cardiff Bay Yacht Club and Nicholas Sawyer and their attitude to safety". |
| Robert Cotter, surveyor in charge at the MCA's Cardiff Marine Office, said: "When you entrust your child into someone else's care you expect them to do everything necessary to keep them safe. | Robert Cotter, surveyor in charge at the MCA's Cardiff Marine Office, said: "When you entrust your child into someone else's care you expect them to do everything necessary to keep them safe. |
| "The safety of all on board and other users of Cardiff Bay should be the number one priority and this wasn't the case." | "The safety of all on board and other users of Cardiff Bay should be the number one priority and this wasn't the case." |