Two men died after a speedboat collided with a navigational beacon outside Portsmouth Harbour in August 2025, an incident that has prompted calls for stricter regulations on alcohol consumption by recreational boaters. William Blake, 61, and Gary Huntington, 60, were killed when Blake’s rigid inflatable boat (RIB), named Peaky Blinder, struck navigation beacon 81 at a speed of approximately 38 miles per hour (33.5 knots). A third occupant survived with minor injuries.
A post-mortem examination revealed that Blake had a blood alcohol concentration more than twice the legal driving limit on land at the time of the crash. Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) investigators estimated that Blake had consumed at least five and a half pints of beer, as well as additional drinks during two pub rounds prior to setting out. The occupants of the vessel were reported to have consumed about 10 cans of beer and cider collectively while at sea.
The incident occurred on August 14, 2025, after Blake had collected friends for a pre-arranged trip across the Solent, the body of water between Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight. Their itinerary included crossing to Ryde on the Isle of Wight, where they socialized and drank with friends, before returning to a floating restaurant at Haslar Marina near Portsmouth naval base. The journey continued northward back to Port Solent.
During the return trip, Blake accelerated the RIB to a maximum speed of nearly 50 knots (57 mph), significantly exceeding the 10-knot speed limit within Portsmouth Harbour. One passenger noticed the vessel drifting outside the safe navigation channel toward shallow mud flats. Blake made a turn to re-enter the channel but appeared to look toward the mud flats on the starboard side immediately before the impact with the small wooden navigation post.
The collision threw all three occupants into the water. Blake’s body was recovered five days later at Whale Island.
Currently, it is not illegal for non-professional sailors to operate vessels under the influence of alcohol, as laws criminalizing intoxication on recreational boats have yet to be enacted. Rob Loder, the chief inspector of marine accidents, urged the government to implement existing provisions within the Railways and Transport Safety Act 2003 that would establish blood alcohol limits for amateur boat operators. He expressed hope that such measures would prevent future fatal accidents linked to excessive alcohol consumption.
A spokesperson for the Royal Yachting Association emphasized that operating vessels under the influence of alcohol or drugs endangers lives and is unacceptable within the boating community. Meanwhile, the Department for Transport stated that safety remains its top priority and that it is carefully considering the MAIB report’s findings and recommendations.