THE director of a yachting company has pleaded not guilty to manslaughter after a vessel capsized and killed four people, including a Hampshire man.

The Cheeki Rafiki lost its keel as the crew were returning the 40ft yacht from Antigua to the UK in May 2014 when it got into trouble more than 700 miles from Nova Scotia.

On board were skipper Andrew Bridge, 22, from Farnham in Surrey, as well as crew members Steve Warren, 52, and Paul Goslin, 56, both from Somerset, and James Male, 23, from Southampton.

The US Coastguard was criticised for calling off its search after two days, but after protests from family and friends, and intervention by the British government, the search was re-started and the boat found, but without any sign of the four men.

Douglas Innes, director of Stormforce Coaching Limited, appeared at Winchester Crown Court to enter his not guilty pleas to four counts of manslaughter by gross negligence.

He also denied a further charge of failing to operate the Cheeki Rafiki in a safe manner between March 18 2013 and May 18 2014.

He also appeared as representative for Stormforce Coaching and entered a not guilty plea on behalf of the company to a charge of failing to ensure the vessel was operated in a safe manner contrary to section 100 Merchant Shipping Act 1995.

The judge, Mr Justice Dingemans, adjourned the case with a trial date set of June 6 next year with a further preliminary hearing on March 6.

He told the defendant: "I am going to remand you on unconditional bail until Monday 6th March when you will have to come back for the preparatory hearing before this court."