Another death on the Clipper race
- Thread starter Gerry
- Start date
RichardS
N/A
Apparently only ever 2 deaths in the Clipper history .... both in this race and both on this boat. 
Very sad.
Richard
Very sad.
Richard
Bobc
Well-Known Member
Oh man, that's awful news.
Halcyon Yachts
Well-Known Member
Extremely sad. I notice that the skipper is already being blamed by some. I am sure the incident will be thoroughly investigated, in the mean time I think that we should give him the benefit of the doubt and think for a moment about how the rest of the crew must be feeling right now. Tragic for all involved.
RIP Sarah
RIP Sarah
savageseadog
Well-Known Member
Awful news. I do have reservations regarding the ocean being used as a playground, similar to the reservations I have about Everest tourism.
I notice they are proceeding in the right general race direction after the incident, perhaps they don't have a choice? One wonders how they'll cope with the body.
I notice they are proceeding in the right general race direction after the incident, perhaps they don't have a choice? One wonders how they'll cope with the body.
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Seajet
...
My only thoughts are it's incredibly sad, and especially awful for the crew now; also, what a hell of a CV Sarah had, some lady !
yoda
Well-Known Member
Indeed very sad and the report reminds us all about the necessity of being clipped on.
'Skipper Darren Ladd reports that Sarah was tidying the cockpit after reefing the mainsail in 35 - 40 knots of wind, when she was knocked from her position by a wave. She fell back toward the guard wire and was swept under it by another wave at 1127 UTC (2227 local). She was not tethered onto the yacht at this time and was swept away in strong winds.'
Yoda
'Skipper Darren Ladd reports that Sarah was tidying the cockpit after reefing the mainsail in 35 - 40 knots of wind, when she was knocked from her position by a wave. She fell back toward the guard wire and was swept under it by another wave at 1127 UTC (2227 local). She was not tethered onto the yacht at this time and was swept away in strong winds.'
Yoda
roblpm
Well-Known Member
So not being funny but what would be your criteria for being clipped on? 30 knots in our local river and we are not clipped on. Wind speed? Wave height? Location? Hmmmm.
Binman
Well-Known Member
Why wasn't she clipped on, it's her fault,did the skipper see her tidying up the cockpit not clipped on, these crews aren't silly, she new what risk she was taking,skipper is there to reinforce the code.it is very sad but unforgivable.
RupertW
Well-Known Member
No question I blame the skipper. We look at these cases hoping to learn something but as an amateur my safety briefing has always been, "they are only 2 things that can kill you, going overboard or being hit by the boom - everything else just injures". Once is gross negligence - twice is manslaughter.
Scotty_Tradewind
Well-Known Member
This is very sad news.
In this instance ...... Sarah was extremely experienced and knew the risks and should have been fully aware of when to be attached.
This was not a Sunday afternoon jaunt in the Solent with inexperienced crew.
A skipper of a large yacht in 35-40knots would have had many things to attend to and assess at this time and so an experienced crew has to take personal responsibility for staying safe.
S.
Gerry
Well-Known Member
Woodlouse
Well-Known Member
The skipper can not be on deck 24/7. If this boat already lost someone then the crew could only have been too aware of the risks of not being clipped on. At the end of the day the skipper can only set the standards, it's up to the crew to maintain them.
Seajet
...
+1, blaming the skipper from thousands of miles away is utterly shameful, RupertW don't you think he's already going through hell, whether he was or wasn't on deck it is up to crew to look after their lines.
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yoda
Well-Known Member
Roblpm, we could debate the criteria for clipping on all day. I don't think there will be much debate that in a situation where the wind is rising (hence the reefing), is already blowing a gale, you are offshore well away from external assistance and it's dark (2227 local) then being clipped on is a fundamental preventative measure.
My point is not about blame, it is to remind people that the decisions they take with regard to clipping on are fundamental to staying onboard be that given as guidance by a skipper or taken by crew as an action.
Yoda
My point is not about blame, it is to remind people that the decisions they take with regard to clipping on are fundamental to staying onboard be that given as guidance by a skipper or taken by crew as an action.
Yoda
Olianta
Active Member
alant
Well-Known Member
The skipper on these boats, is there as a back up expert/specialist. The watches are run by watch leaders, who effectively 'skipper' , so the actual skipper isn't directly involved in all the actions on board. Yes, the skipper has overall responsibility, but the people taking part, whilst amateurs, have intensive training & know the risks, which are part of the adventure. Some of the crew, will, apart from the initial, be involved in several/all legs, so will have possibly more experience in ocean conditions than most commercially endorsed Solent pro skippers. Sad, should not have happened, but the casualty must have been aware of the danger & for whatever reason, chose not to be tethered.
Robert Wilson
Well-Known Member
All terribly sad news, and I didn't realise it was the same boat. Either something amiss on the safety culture or just scary coincidence. I'm sure the former is not the case; or is that wishful thinking?......
However, without knowing what exactly went on, it is possible she was between one strong-point and another, and was extremely unfortunate to have been caught by the wave at exactly that instant. I have personal experience of this:-
Last year, just outside Eastbourne in none too nasty seas and wind, my topping lift detached and was swinging out-board. I needed to go forward to catch it so lent over the cockpit coaming to clip on to the jack-stay.
I was distracted by the event and in the split-second before I had clipped, the main gybed, the mainsheet caught me across the chest and slammed me back-first into the opposite coaming. I broke a rib in my back, damaged my elbow and severely bruised my spine and pelvis.
It was one H*ll of a slam, but the high coaming saved me from going over-board.
Sarah may have been doing something similar. I hope that was the case for all those left on-board.
RIP Sarah
However, without knowing what exactly went on, it is possible she was between one strong-point and another, and was extremely unfortunate to have been caught by the wave at exactly that instant. I have personal experience of this:-
Last year, just outside Eastbourne in none too nasty seas and wind, my topping lift detached and was swinging out-board. I needed to go forward to catch it so lent over the cockpit coaming to clip on to the jack-stay.
I was distracted by the event and in the split-second before I had clipped, the main gybed, the mainsheet caught me across the chest and slammed me back-first into the opposite coaming. I broke a rib in my back, damaged my elbow and severely bruised my spine and pelvis.
It was one H*ll of a slam, but the high coaming saved me from going over-board.
Sarah may have been doing something similar. I hope that was the case for all those left on-board.
RIP Sarah
KellysEye
Well-Known Member
I cannot believe she wasn't clipped on all skippers have a duty of care to their crew so hopefuly the skipper will be prosecuted when he returns home. An example is a skipper decided to enter the Solent by the Needles in wind against tide and gale force winds, a crew member was washed overboard and died, the skipper was prosectuted.
bedouin
Well-Known Member
What concerns me is that she didn't survive. They managed to recover her in not much more than an hour - quite an achievement in itself given the conditions - but she was already dead. I would have expected MOB survival times of more than that in those conditions.