• Home
• Racing and Sailing
• Cadets and Families
• Training
• Membership
• News
• About
• Contact

• Latest news
• Subscribe to News Alerts by Email or Social Media

Club News

WYC Commodore’s report on the Coroner’s inquest into the death of Luca March

Posted: Friday, 17 February, 2012

David Lowe’s report to the General Committee on HM Coroner’s inquest into the death of Luca Marchesin at Canterbury Magistrates Court on 9th February 2012

I was called to attend the Inquest into the death of Mr Luca Marchesin at 14:00 on Thursday 9th February 2012.  I was accompanied by Vice-Commodore Donna Hender.  I sought advice before the hearing from Gus Lewis, RYA Legal and Government Affairs Manager and Judge Stephen Gerlis, a member of WYC. I would like to offer my sincere thanks to both for their advice and support.

HM Coroner started the Inquest by explaining the purpose: to identify the deceased; to identify the place and circumstances of the death; to identify the cause of death; to categorise the death; to consider whether there was evidence that she should issue a Coroner’s Rule 43 report recommending that steps should be put in place to prevent similar deaths happening in future.

The Inquest lasted for a little over three hours and called Mr Marchesin’s sister to confirm his identity and registration details, a Kent Police Detective to confirm details of their investigation and the timings of events, the pathologist and statements from a local fisherman describing how he found Mr Marchesin’s body and from the Dinghy Store about timings of events, EF to explain the circumstances and myself to explain processes and procedures around being safe when sailing.

HM Coroner found that Mr Marchesin died by drowning following the capsize of a sailing dinghy off the coast of Whitstable, and that this was an accident.  She also stated that “on the evidence of the Commodore of WYC, I do not intend to issue a Rule 42 Report”.

There is no further action required of Whitstable Yacht Club, our procedures around safety on the water in general and free-sailing in particular are adequate.  We should however listen to the advice of the RYA and the Marine Accident Investigation Board and continue to promote safety on the water and to educate our members in how to stay safe at sea. We should never forget the tragic outcome of this accident, which happened on a perfect summer sailing day, and we should spare a thought for Mr Marchesin’s family.

David Lowes
Commodore
Whitstable Yacht Club
12th February 2012