A POWERBOAT expert said a Hampshire businessman was driving a rib too fast and too close to a yacht moments before a fatal boat accident, a court heard.

Ryan McKinlay, a father-of-one from Gosport, died following the accident off Osborne Bay off the Isle of Wight on June 19, 2015.

Aaron Brown, chief operating officer of telecoms firm OneCom, of Botley Road, Curdridge, is on trial at Winchester Crown Court charged with the manslaughter by gross negligence of the 36-year-old, which he denies. 

On the day of the incident, Brown had driven a Williams 325 Turbojet, with McKinlay onboard, which collided with his yacht The True Blue.

Brown had hired day skipper Paul Carey, who had also driven the rib that day, and the court has seen video footage of him "spraying" passengers when carrying out manouvres on the rib earlier that day.

Carey faces a charge of being the person responsible for the conduct of a vessel which contravened Merchant Shipping regulation, which he denies.

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Winchester Crown Court heard evidence today from powerboat expert Paul Glatzel, who was critical of both Carey and Brown.

Mr Glatzel is one of just five people worldwide appointed by the Royal Yachting Association (RYA) to teach instructors. He is also the author of the RYA powerboat and advanced powerboat handbooks.

He commented on footage of Paul Carey driving the rib, saying Carey passed "too close" to the yacht, leaving little escape room.

Mr Glatzel said: "It does not need to be so close for people to have an enjoyable time.

"It can be further away and the risk goes down."

Today he spoke about Aaron Brown driving the rib, and the collision. 

The court heard that the rib was travelling at 28mph (24.3 knots) when less than a second away from the boat.

Mr Glatzel said: “I would not use the word a bit close for comfort.

"It was far too close.”

He said a safer speed close to the boat would have been five knots.

Defending Brown, Trevor Burke QC, said that Brown was “in control” of the rib, but Mr Glatzel disagreed with this.

Glatzel said Brown should not have been heading towards the yacht and should not have even attempted a manoeuvre to “spray” passengers with water.

Mr Burke then addressed Mr Glatzel and asked what actions should he have taken to avoid a collision.

Mr Glatzel replied: “The answer to your question is continue the turn, or reduce the speed, but that misses the point of not getting yourself into that position in the first place.”

Proceeding.