A retired British lawyer who fulfilled his sailing dream by joining one of the world’s toughest yacht races has drowned after being washed overboard.
Simon Speirs, a crew member on the Clipper Round the World Race yacht ‘Great Britain’ had signed up as a crew member for the £45,000 year-long adventure.
He was helping to change a sail at the bows of the 70-foot boat when he was washed over the side amid a Force Eight gale in the Indian Ocean.
In spite of wearing a safety harness clipped onto the deck his crewmates could only watch in horror as he was swept away from the boat in giant seas.
Simon Speirs was helping to change a sail at the bows of the 70-foot boat when he was knocked over the side amid a Force Eight gale in the Indian Ocean when he was washed overboard
Mr Speirs, 60, a retired property solicitor from Bristol went overboard while on the foredeck of the ocean racer on the sixth day of the leg between South Africa and Australia.
Conditions before the tragedy were described as ‘rough’, with winds gusting up to 50mph.
According to a report from organising company Clipper Ventures, he was clipped on with a lifeline but ‘somehow became separated from the yacht.’ He was found and successfully recovered on board 36 minutes later but was unable to be resuscitated.
A statement by Clipper Ventures reads: ‘Simon, 60, from Bristol, UK, was on the foredeck assisting with a headsail change from Yankee 3 when he was washed overboard.
‘Although he was clipped on with his safety tether, he became separated from the yacht in the Southern Ocean at approximately 0814UTC (1414 local time) in a rough sea state in 20 knots of wind, gusting up to 40.
‘The team’s man overboard recovery training kicked into immediate effect and despite the rough conditions, Simon was recovered back on board by the skipper and crew within 36 minutes, at which point CPR was immediately administered by three medically trained crew, which included a GP.
A statement from Clipper Ventures said Mr Speirs had been wearing a life jacket and was clipped on to the vessel with a safety tether when he was washed overboard
‘However Simon sadly never regained consciousness and was pronounced deceased at 09.25UTC. The cause of death is unconfirmed at this time but thought to be by drowning.
‘All other crew are reported safe and are being supported remotely by the race office.’
The statement continued: ‘At the time of the incident, Simon was clipped on, wearing his lifejacket, which included an AIS (rescue) beacon, as well as approved waterproof ocean oilskins.
‘A full investigation will now be carried out, as is standard practice, into the full details of the incident, including the reasons his safety tether did not keep him on board, in co-operation with the appropriate authorities.
‘A member of the crew since race start in the UK on August 20, Simon was a highly experienced sailor with over 40 years dinghy experience and held a Coastal Skipper licence. He also successfully completed the Clipper Race Coxswain Certificate in February this year in anticipation of his challenge.
‘Designed in collaboration with the Maritime Coastguard Agency, and the Royal Yachting Association specifically for the Clipper Race, this involved an intensive two-week course, in addition to the four weeks of compulsory training that all Clipper Race crew must complete which concentrates on safety at sea.’
The yacht is currently making best speed to Fremantle, Australia.
The event – which is the brainchild of yachtsman Robin Knox-Johnson – has already had several emergencies since starting in July.
On the first leg, the skipper of entry Greenings suffered a serious hand injury and had to be evacuated for treatment.
Earlier on this leg, the same yacht – the boats cost an estimated £250,000 (POUNDS) – ran aground on the coast of South Africa and was wrecked on a reef.
On the last race in 2016, Sarah Young, 40, died after falling overboard from the yacht Qingdao during the race leg from China to Seattle after she was washed overboard while not clipped on and although recovered she could not be resuscitated.
A Marine Accident Investigation Branch investigation was launched following the fatality and found the cause was of Ms Young not being clipped on, but it made several recommendations and Clipper Ventures later increased MOB drills.
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