Drink and fatigue 'caused' crash

Robin Brechin, Isabella Fleming and Gordon Thomson died in the crash

Tiredness and excessive alcohol consumption were "most likely" the main reasons for a boat crash which killed three people last July, a report said.

The Marine Accident Investigation Branch report said the two helmsmen were almost two and a half times over the drink drive limit for car drivers.

The report added that the powerboat was "being operated at an unsafe speed".

Gordon Thomson, 44, Robin Brechin, 49, and Isabella Fleming, 38, died in the crash near Tarbert Harbour, Loch Fyne.

The spouses of those who died were all seriously injured in the crash.

All three couples were from Dunoon in Argyll.

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Mr Thomson and Mr Brechin were at the helm of the powerboat called Sea Snake when it crashed into rocks at 0150 GMT on 10 July.

The MAIB report said: "The combination of the effects of fatigue and excessive alcohol consumption was most likely the principal factor contributing to the accident."

The helmsmen had not slept for 18 hours.

The report said the driver of the powerboat probably became unsure and confused by the navigation marks leading to the inner harbour.

He decided to turn the vessel around to starboard and make another approach.

The report added: "The powerboat was being operated at an unsafe speed for the location and prevailing conditions."

Both of the helmsmen had received training for daylight operation of a powerboat but had not received training in the operation of powerboats during darkness.

There are no current laws against recreational users navigating on water while under the influence of alcohol.

The MAIB repeated a previous recommendation made following an accident in Cornwall.

This said that the Department for Transport should work closely with the Royal Yachting Association and other relevant bodies "to realise the urgent introduction of national regulations to establish limits on the amount of alcohol which may be consumed by operators of leisure vessels".