Lawsuit filed in SV Cynthia Woods capsize & drowning case

The widow of a sailor who drowned during a boating accident has filed a lawsuit against the manufacturer of the vessel.  The sailor, Roger Stone, was the safety officer aboard the SV Cynthia Woods during an offshore race.  He is credited with saving the lives of two Texas A&M student sailors at the cost of his own.

His widow, Linda Stone has filed a lawsuit against the designer, manufacturer and a company that repaired the racing yacht on which her husband died.  The civil complaint, filed by Linda Stone’s attorney, claims Cape Fear Yacht Works, boat designer Bruce Marek, Payco Inc. and Galveston Yacht Service are not cooperating with investigations into the accident. The lawsuit, filed in district court in Galveston County, also claims there are flaws in the boat’s design, manufacture and marketing.

Read more about the lawsuit and circumstances surrounding it in two separate articles:
Wife of Man Killed in A&M Boat Accident Files Lawsuit - Houston Fox26
Hero sailor’s wife to sue over probe - Galveston County Daily News

Galveston sailor loses life saving crew in capsize

Galveston, Texas sailor Roger Stone died saving the lives of fellow crew when the Sailing Vessel CYNTHIA WOODS capsized south of Freeport, Texas.  Five sailors were rescued by the Coast Guard after floating in the Gulf of Mexico following the capsize of their boat 26 hours earlier.

Stone, who was the Safety Officer aboard the boat which was participating in the Regata de Amigos race from Galveston to Veracruz, reportedly noticed water entering the hull and forced other crew on to the deck immediately prior to the capsize.  Early indications are that the boat's keel fell off causing the boat to rapidly take on water, capsize and sink.

Galveston, Texas sailor Roger Stone