Elizabeth became trapped underneath the hull of the boat, while the other children and the teacher were thrown clear.

Teacher Paul Dove said conditions were reasonable

The hearing had heard that the teacher - Paul Dove - did not do a proper headcount and that Elizabeth was only discovered after her sister realised she was missing.

First aid was given but she died in hospital.

Her father said after the inquest that he was satisfied with the result.

But he added: "This is not finished yet. We are still going to carry on.

"There are avenues which we can go through because I am still not entirely happy with some of the issues."

Her mother, Lesley, 44, said through tears: "I am really, really pleased at last that somebody has taken the blame. I can now draw a line underneath it all.

"Elizabeth has not lost her life in vain. This should never happen again. I have just wanted someone to put their hands up and say, it's our fault."

The dory capsized, trapping Elizabeth underneath

"During the three-day hearing, the inquest was told that under guidelines on school trips, another teacher should have been on board the boat to watch the children.

Conditions had been bad on the day that the pupils, from the independent Boundary Oak School in Fareham, Hampshire, set out for a sailing trip at the Royal Navy's Sailing Club at Whale Island in Portsmouth.

A total of 18 children went to the sailing centre, accompanied by two teachers and a gap year student.

Conditions in the morning were too bad to sail, but the decision was taken in the afternoon to take a small party out, although the wind was still force four to five.

The teacher, Paul Dove, set off with the nine children in a flat-bottomed boat known as a dory, which was 14ft long.

Teacher's statement

In a statement, Paul Dove told the inquest that he had thought conditions were reasonable.

"I judged conditions not to be appropriate for sailing especially for beginners. But a short excursion of the sailing area in the dory was agreed upon," the statement said.

"I wanted to show the children where the sailing would take place.

"The children were already kitted in wetsuits and life jackets and were keen to get out on to the water."

The inquest heard that during the lesson one child had fallen overboard and another had been stung by a jellyfish.

The engine also stalled twice and it was shortly after the second attempt to restart the motor that the boat capsized.

Mr Dove said: "It may have been five minutes from when the engine stalled to when the boat capsized. I found myself in the water and swam back to the boat.

"Most of the children were sat on the hull and some of the children were blowing whistles.

"I called out to the children to see if they were all there and they shouted that they were."

Rescuers

Rescuers called out to the scene told the inquest also gave evidence.

Rescuer David Baker said he had seen the boat shortly before it capsized and had been surprised that the small craft had been taken out in such windy conditions.

He said: "The wind in the morning had been about 20 to 22 knots - at 30 knots ferries have to be assisted into their berths by tugs.

"I was surprised that dory was out in those gusty conditions. I have seen boats sink in similar conditions."

The coroner, James Kenroy, had told the jury of seven men and four women that Elizabeth had died after it had been assumed nothing could go wrong.

"I would look to the Titanic for a classic illustration, in that the impossible must be planned for," he said.