Sailor and employment lawyer Ruth Harvey is claiming she suffered both victimisation and harassment
Clipper sailor Ruth Harvey is suing Sir Robin Knox-Johnston over allegations of victimisation and harassment after paying £40,000 to compete in the annual race.
The 50-year-old, who is also an employment lawyer, is claiming she should be classed as an employee having been part of a crew.
The employment specialist, who failed to complete the race, now wants a legal ruling that will delineate between paid participants and employees.
Two days have now been set-aside in November to decide whether Ms Harvey has a case, following a preliminary hearing at Southampton Employment Tribunal last month.
Speaking to legal website RollOnFriday, Ms Harvey argued: “I was a worker for the provisions of the Employment Rights Act, as regards safety, and I was covered by Equality Act provisions ‘in any capacity’ on board, as regards harassment.
“Complex legal argument here involves both domestic and EU law and similar recent cases have gone as far as the Supreme Court.”
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, said: “While we can confirm we are currently in a tribunal process with Ms Harvey, it is our policy not to comment further upon ongoing legal matters.”
Ms Harvey set sail from St Katherine’s Dock in September last year having “begged and borrowed” to raise the funds necessary to take part in the once in a lifetime challenge.
A JustGiving page she created for the event has raised £745 of the £5,000 target for Cornwall Air Ambulance.
Ms Harvey raced on board the 75ft yacht Jamaica Get All Right with 59 other crewmembers from a number of different nations.
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