THE director of the management company for a yacht which capsized and killed a Hampshire man and three others has appeared in court charged with manslaughter.

The yacht lost its keel as the crew were returning the 40ft yacht from Antigua to the UK in May 2014 when it got into trouble more than 700 miles from Nova Scotia.

On board were skipper Andrew Bridge, 22, from Farnham in Surrey, and crew members Steve Warren, 52, and Paul Goslin, 56, both from Somerset, and James Male, 23, from Southampton.

The US Coastguard was criticised for calling off its search after two days, and following protests from family and friends and intervention by the British government the search was restarted and the boat found, but without any sign of the four men.

Douglas Innes, director of Stormforce Coaching Ltd, appeared at Southampton Magistrates' Court to face four counts of manslaughter by gross negligence.

He also appeared as representative for Stormforce, which faces a charge of failing to ensure the vessel was operated in a safe manner contrary to section 100 Merchant Shipping Act 1995.

Innes, 41, of Whitworth Crescent, Southampton, represented by his solicitor Sarah Barnard, spoke only to confirm his name, address and date of birth during the short hearing.

Families of the four crew were in court for the hearing.

District Judge Anthony Callaway adjourned the case and sent it to Winchester Crown Court for trial with a preliminary hearing to be held on December 5.

He released Innes on unconditional bail until then.

He told the defendant: "These matters, each and every one of them including corporate manslaughter, are allocated for trial at Crown Court."

The Maritime & Coastguard Agency announced the charges last month and said in a statement: "The Maritime & Coastguard Agency has carried out an investigation lasting more than two years into the circumstances surrounding the loss of the Cheeki Rafiki in May 2014.

"Following that extensive investigation, a decision has been made by the Crown Prosecution Service to bring charges against Douglas Innes and Stormforce Coaching Ltd."

Ian Harris, from the Crown Prosecution Service Wessex, said: "We have authorised the charging of Douglas Innes with four counts of gross negligence manslaughter and Douglas Innes and Stormforce Coaching Ltd with one charge.

"These charges relate to the deaths of Andrew Bridge, James Male, Stephen Warren and Paul Goslin in the North Atlantic in May 2014, following the loss of the keel on their yacht, the Cheeki Rafiki. The decision to charge was taken in accordance with the Code of Crown Prosecutors."