Terrible news from Clipper

Dreadful news.

Clipper really, really need to take stock of the risk of the event. Three deaths in two events is far to high.
 
Never been a fan of lifelines. Anyway........
I thought I read in the MIAB report on the previous race that Clipper had subsequently changed the tether system so that the fixed jackstay was amidships on the foc'sle which meant the tether was too short to let you go overboard. I also thought they now had netting all along the guardrails.
It is another sad event in a brutal race.
 
Sad news but let's hope it doesn't spell the end of the race. The risk is part of the thrill and the crew must be under no illusion that it is a dangerous occupation.

I am interested to see what the full story is hear. On the face of it an incident like that shouldn't end in a fatality
 
Very sad.
Why is the Clipper seemingly more dangerous than the Vendee? Is it simply that the more people are out there, the more likely that one will come to harm?
 
Kelpie said:
Very sad.
Why is the Clipper seemingly more dangerous than the Vendee? Is it simply that the more people are out there, the more likely that one will come to harm?
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One reason may be that they take people of all ages. Another may be that everything is done by hand. No furling gear for example.
 
bedouin said:
Sad news but let's hope it doesn't spell the end of the race. The risk is part of the thrill and the crew must be under no illusion that it is a dangerous occupation.
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I think you meant "must be under no illusion that it is a safe occupation". But here's what Sir Robin says about it on their website:

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There is a degree of rather worrying complacency there, in the assertion that if people don't do what they are supposed to it's because they have forgotten what they have been taught. The possibility that they may not have been taught is apparently not even entertained. Three deaths and a total loss by grounding so far this year - I wonder what else 2017 has in store for Clipper crews.
 
JumbleDuck said:
Three deaths and a total loss by grounding so far this year - I wonder what else 2017 has in store for Clipper crews.
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Three deaths this year - are you sure?

In the previous fatalities I have heard of there has been an element of the victim forgetting an element of the safety drill. In this case he was clipped on and properly dressed, and even after becoming separated from the boat he was recovered reasonably quickly - no reason why that should have been fatal so I hope we learn more in the fulness of time.
 
bedouin said:
Three deaths this year - are you sure?
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You are quite right. I read the MAIB report too hastily.

In the previous fatalities I have heard of there has been an element of the victim forgetting an element of the safety drill.
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Or not having been taught the safety drill ...

In this case he was clipped on and properly dressed, and even after becoming separated from the boat he was recovered reasonably quickly - no reason why that should have been fatal so I hope we learn more in the fulness of time.
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Agreed.
 
Dreadful news for the whole community and of course his family and friends.

Obviously we as boat-peole on these fora feel the incidents and losses more sharply, but let's not forget that the Clipper, Vendee etc are just one sort of "extreme" activities that adventurous people take part in.

In a year, and around the world, how many sad losses are there in motor-sport, hill-walking, extreme mountain climbing, caving, scuba-diving, horse-riding, triathlons etc etc etc.

I flew in a Spitfire recently and before doing so updated my will and rationalised that if this fantastic thrill and achievement was to be my last then I'd have gone-out doing something amazing, fulfilling a life's ambition and in full knowledge of the fact "things can go wrong" no matter how much safety and preparation go into a situation.

That is not to sweep-aside the tragedy and forget that the Clipper organisers have to thoroughly assess the incident's causes for ongoing participation.

Condolences to those left behind.
 
Robert Wilson said:
In a year, and around the world, how many sad losses are there in motor-sport, hill-walking, extreme mountain climbing, caving, scuba-diving, horse-riding, triathlons etc etc etc.
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Lots, but how many of these happen to paying customers of commercial ventures providing thrills for cash? A fair few on Everest, of course, but other than that?
 
Kelpie said:
Very sad.
Why is the Clipper seemingly more dangerous than the Vendee? Is it simply that the more people are out there, the more likely that one will come to harm?
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Vendee- single handed professionals
Clipper- Big crew with keen amateurs

There has been losses in both races if you look at it percentage wise it may be that there have been more losses in the Vendee.
 
petem said:
At what point would you consider the number of deaths in a single year to be unacceptable and a valid reason for stopping the race?
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Would have thought it would self regulate if no one turned up with the wonga?

Very sad though for all involved. I was invited for a looky round on their training yacht in February when they were doing their Clipper Coxn course. That training was of a very high standard. Wonder what happened?
 
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