Yacht That Sunk Tanker Almost Had Second Wreck the Same Night, Crew Says

First Officer Took Helm from Captain, Lawsuit Alleges

According to the National Transportation Safety Board, Utopia IV’s captain left the helm to a crewman who had not qualified as a watchstander. Minutes later the 207-footer plowed into the stern of a Bahamian tanker, sinking her. The tanker’s crew were rescued. Utopia’s crew suffered a variety of injuries from the crash.

The yacht captain whose 207-foot v…