Stirling Thomas: Cruise ship skipper drunk at the helm, sinks boat
A cruise skipper who had “too many wines at lunch” was so drunk at the helm that his boat capsized and he had to swim to safety. A court heard he “turns to the bottle” under stress.
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An eastern suburbs cruise ship captain whose vessel hosts bucks parties on Sydney Harbour has himself been caught drinking at the helm after his boat capsized.
Skipper Stirling Paul Thomas, whose company Wavelength operates out of the Rose Bay marina, fronted the Downing Centre Local Court on Wednesday charged with mid-range drink driving after sinking his boat in Five Dock in February.
The court was told by his lawyer Thomas has a “terrible” record for drink driving while operating cars, having only been before the courts for a high range offence last December.
He pleaded guilty to drink driving while in charge of a vessel.
According to court documents Thomas was forced to swim to the safety of his 10 metre catamaran after the boat’s tender took on water and went under.
Stormy weather and rough seas contributed to the incident, his lawyer told the court, while also adding Thomas had “too many wines at lunch” but was a positive member of the community when not drinking.
Thomas, 60, sat quietly in an all white suit as the court heard how the incident occurred just hours before he was due to take clients on the water for a Sydney Harbour cruise.
“Police also observed an empty wine glass next to the helm wheel,” court documents state.
“Police form the opinion he would have still been intoxicated and put the passengers lives in danger.”
The veteran skipper tendered a number of character references and a letter of apology to Magistrate Erin Kennedy.
The court was told of Thomas’s good character, his volunteer work with Marine Rescue but that he “turns to the bottle” under stress.
“What’s incredibly concerning is you came before the court for something so serious so recently,” Magistrate Kennedy said.
“It’s still consuming too much alcohol and taking yourself on the water is exposing others to risk.”
Thomas was handed a three year community corrections order and will have to undertake 300 hours of community service as part of his sentence.
He has also been banned from the waters for three months.
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