How a tragic accident sparked an urgent call for improvement
A fatal collision near Saba Rock in the British Virgin Islands has raised serious concerns over maritime safety and crew accountability. First officer Lesley Joubert of 122-foot Eau La La, a 36-year-old South African national, has been charged with manslaughter following the death of Stephen Cross Jr, an American captain and longtime resident of St Thomas. The incident has exposed significant gaps in maritime safety enforcement, particularly in high-traffic areas such as North Sound, Virgin Gorda, where vessels frequently exceed speed limits in no-wake zones. Questions have also arisen about the emergency response protocols, highlighting a critical need to overhaul outdated maritime regulations worldwide.
On the night of November 22, 2024, Stephen was piloting a 12.5-foot dinghy with six charter guests on their way to dinner at Saba Rock. As he navigated the no-wake mooring field, a 21-foot RIB from Eau La La, operated by Lesley, allegedly approached at a speed that was well over the five-knot speed limit. Eyewitness Dontre Antoine told investigators that he saw “a black inflatable dinghy with no lights run through a gray inflatable dinghy” without stopping. Charter guest Nicholas Morana, who was on Stephen’s dinghy, confirmed the statement, saying that Eau La La’s tender was “traveling about 25 knots” when it “ran over them from the rear” and continued on its way, leaving all seven passengers in the water.
Despite Stephen’s attempt to maneuver, which likely saved his guests’ lives, he sustained catastrophic injuries, including multiple rib, femur and pelvic fractures, along with a collapsed lung. Several nearby vessels responded quickly, pulling Stephen and his passengers from the water. However, crucial time was lost in the emergency response. Lesley reportedly continued operating the RIB initially after the collision, without immediately stopping to offer assistance. The timing of when he alerted his captain remains unclear.
According to Captain Vince Lauro, a St Thomas veteran, “the way you react is what makes the difference. (Lesley) should’ve gone back to the scene of the accident, found the victim and ensured they received proper medical treatment.”
He also questioned the decision to first transport Stephen to the Nurse Iris O’Neal Clinic on Virgin Gorda and only later to Dr D Orlando Smith Hospital on Tortola, where he was pronounced dead at 10:22pm. “Puerto Rico would’ve had a helicopter in 20 minutes,” he says.
Christopher Winschel, general manager of Saba Rock, recalls the chaos that followed the collision.
“It happened right in front of Saba Rock,” he says. “My manager called 911 immediately, and I was her second call.” As witnesses helped Stephen and his guests, Christopher sat with Lesley while they waited for law enforcement. “He was visibly shaken,” he says.
The area where Stephen was struck is notorious for being high-risk. “There have been more incidents than you can count,” Captain Vince says, “and the islanders haul ass everywhere they go in cigarette boats.” This blatant disregard for the no-wake zone, particularly outside Saba Rock, has raised serious concerns within the maritime community. The lack of enforcement in such a congested area has prompted calls for more surveillance to detect speed violations. Christopher is hopeful that, if anything positive can come from this tragedy, it will be the wake-up call needed to increase monitoring and enforce stricter speed limits.
As the incident works its way through the BVI courts, the focus is shifting beyond just determining the cause of the accident to addressing its aftermath. As that happens, industry insiders are questioning the absence of a standard emergency response protocol to aid crash victims. This lack of clear procedures — particularly in high-risk areas like North Sound — highlights a much larger issue of safety oversight.
Ryan Rabatin, VP of Yacht Compliance at Dayboard Yacht Solutions, says Eau La La, like other vessels under 500GT, is not required to follow SOLAS (Safety of Life at Sea) regulations, which mandate comprehensive safety protocols.
“We have yachts that are 300GT or more operating just below the SOLAS threshold,” he says. “All charter yachts are required by their flag state to implement a mini-ISM system. While this scaled-down version of the International Safety Management (ISM) Code was designed to provide smaller yachts with basic compliance guidance, we are seeing that it is no longer sufficient. SOLAS sets life-saving standards but only applies to vessels over 500GT, leaving Eau La La — like many other charter yachts — exempt from critical third-party oversight and compliance requirements.”
Ryan emphasizes that this needs to change. “There’s no difference between 499 and 500 gross tons when it comes to safety,” he says. “We have reached a point where the mini-ISM system needs to be re-evaluated and strengthened to include more detailed onboard operating procedures and documentation requirements. Most importantly, there should be a flag-certified third party providing ongoing oversight and ensuring compliance with the convention’s safety standards for commercially operated yachts. While flag states are doing a good job enforcing the requirement for mini-ISM systems, more needs to be done to establish better checks and balances for charter yachts — ultimately elevating safety for everyone.”
Stephen’s passing has left a lasting mark on the yachting world, with the spotlight now on the case against first officer Lesley Joubert. However, the ripple effects of this tragedy extend far beyond this case, highlighting the need for better surveillance and speed limit enforcement and sparking wider discussions about the gaps in current regulations. Many in the maritime community are watching closely as the legal proceedings unfold, hoping that this tragedy will lead to meaningful change.
A Captain’s Legacy
Stephen’s passing has left an undeniable void, particularly among those who knew him personally. Caitie Rosko, the woman he was set to marry in April, speaks of Stephen with deep admiration. “He was the best person to do life with,” she says. “We loved taking our time, savoring each moment, because there was never any rush. The joy was in looking forward to the next steps of life together.”
Stephen lived by the simple but powerful motto “slow is pro.” “Whether he was navigating the waters or teaching someone to sail, he never rushed,” Caitie says.
Stephen’s legacy will live on through the Stephen Cross Jr Scholarship, established in partnership with the Sea Corps Foundation. This scholarship aims to support aspiring American mariners, ensuring they receive the training and certification necessary to navigate the waters safely and responsibly.
“For those of us who had the privilege of calling Stephen a friend, captain or colleague,” says Jesse Clinton, yacht captain and co-founder of Sea Corps, “his loss has instilled in us a deep responsibility to elevate the standards of our industry and to support one another on the water, as is the mariner’s code. The scholarship will place a strong emphasis on safety training and ethical seamanship, reinforcing Stephen’s core values of ‘slow is pro.’ It aims to not only train competent crew members but instill a mindset of responsibility, professionalism and safety in the maritime industry.”
Stephen’s passion for life, particularly his love for the ocean, was something Caitie shared. “He taught me to free dive, drive and sail catamarans, wing foil, play golf, hike, fish, you name it. He pushed me to obtain my 100T Master captain’s license and to become a better human being,” she says.
Nearly two weeks after his passing, a flotilla including a USCG escort, countless boats in convoy, an airplane fly-by, fireboats and wing foilers was organized to bring Stephen home.
“It was such a moving moment,” Caitie says. “To see so many boats coming together, the Coast Guard leading the way, and the respect shown by everyone.”
Afterward, a celebration of life was held on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, where Stephen had spent much of his childhood. Family, friends and colleagues gathered to share stories and memories.
“Stephen had many passions — wing foiling, surfing, fishing, sailing, freediving, lobstering, gardening, hiking and golfing to name a few,” Caitie says. “But above all, his greatest passion was sharing these experiences with others and showing them the beauty of the islands we called home. Stephen had a way of making everyone who crossed his path feel his love and positive energy, and he never let his ego or concern for what others might think hold him back from sharing his heart.”