Sailor from West Wittering dies in fatal accident aboard vessel in The Solent
The New Zealand skipper was preparing for his journey from West Wittering to Poole
A tragic accident in The Solent led to the death of a New Zealand sailor who had recently departed from West Wittering on his vessel Mollie, according to findings published by the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB).
Lyall Babington, a 74-year-old skipper, was sailing aboard his steel-built recreational yacht Mollie on 5th August 2025 when the incident occurred. Mollie had left West Wittering earlier that day and was on its way to Poole, Dorset, with Babington and three crew members aboard.
The accident occurred around 2.8 nautical miles south-south-west of the Needles Lighthouse when Babington attempted to clear a rope from the powered winch at the aft of the cockpit after preparing to raise a storm jib sail. The winch unexpectedly activated due to a suspected intermittent fault in the switch and pulled Babington’s right hand into the rope, progressively trapping him tighter against the winch drum. He suffered severe injuries to his arm, hand, head, and chest.
The crew aboard Mollie acted quickly, attempting to stop the winch and assess his medical condition. At 12:18, they called His Majesty’s Coastguard and raised a “Mayday” for emergency assistance. The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) and a rescue helicopter were dispatched, arriving on the scene by 12:49. Babington was eventually released from the winch, but despite CPR and treatment from a paramedic, he was declared deceased at 13:05. Mollie was later taken to Yarmouth, Isle of Wight, for further investigation.
The findings reveal significant issues with the vessel’s equipment. The MAIB stated that the powered winch was installed by a small boatyard and had an intermittent defect that sometimes caused it to activate even when the control switch was released. Additionally, there was no emergency stop mechanism on the winch or a local means to isolate power. Crew members relied on the batteries in Mollie’s forward cabin to cut power to the 24-volt system.
Babington had lived aboard Mollie for several years while undertaking a round-the-world voyage. The crew on board during the accident were unpaid but contributed to their living costs, with two having joined just one day before the fatal journey.
The investigation highlights the serious risks posed by faulty equipment and the lack of fail-safe mechanisms aboard recreational vessels. No further actions have been taken following the report’s findings, and a postmortem examination is still pending.