Sailing: British crew member dies in Round the World race

Forty year-old Londoner Sarah Young was swept overboard in strong winds. PHOTO: CLIPPERROUNDTHEWORLD. COM

LONDON (REUTERS) - A British crew member in the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race has died after being swept overboard in strong winds, officials said on Friday.

Forty year-old Sarah Young was on board the IchorCoal boat (CV21) in the Pacific Ocean in wind speeds of up to 40 knots but was not tethered in.

"Next of kin have been informed and all our thoughts are now with Sarah's family, teammates, and loved ones on and off the race," organisers said in a statement published on the official race website (www.clipperroundtheworld.com).

"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."

Young, who owned a lifestyle company, leaves a partner but no children.

It is only the second fatality in the 20-year history of the race, both on the same yacht.

Last September, Andy Ashman, a paramedic from Kent, was killed off the Portugese coast after being knocked unconscious.

The new tragedy happened on day 12 of the ninth race, taking crews across the Pacific Ocean from Qingdao, China, where the yacht left on March 21, to Seattle, US.

Rescue attempts were hampered by the conditions and her body was recovered more than an hour later, said the BBC.

"A full investigation will now be carried out, as is standard practice, into the full details of the incident in cooperation with the appropriate authorities," the statement continued.

Clipper Race founder Robin Knox-Johnson said he was "deeply saddened".

"The safety of our crew has always been and continues to be our main priority," he added.

The race left London at the end of August, and will return there on 30 July.

Young, who leaves a partner, was the owner of a personal lifestyle company providing services for private high net-worth individuals, according to race organisers, the BBC said.

A keen adventurer, the Clipper Race had been an ambition of hers for some years, and she said celebrating her 40th birthday just before setting sail from London was the perfect way to start her adventure.

Prior to the Clipper Race she had taken part in other expeditions including mountaineering in Nepal. She had also run a marathon and was a Divemaster.

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