Displaying items by tag: Simon Speirs

11th August 2019

Clipper Race Organisers Call For Independent Inquiry Into Probe Of Sailor’s Death

Simon Speirs died after going overboard from the yacht CV30, aka GREAT Britain, in the Southern Ocean on 18 November 2017

The company that runs the Clipper Round The World Yacht Race has called for an independent inquiry into the official investigation of the death of a sailor during the most recent edition of the race.

Clipper Ventures have blasted UK’s Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) and Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) for “failure of professionalism, impartiality and honesty” in their parallel probes of the overboard incident in the Southern Ocean that cost the life of 60-year-old retired solicitor Simon Speirs on 18 November 2017.

Despite his being tethered to the boat, as Clipper Ventures says, a “freak failure” of a tether safety clip led to Speirs entering the water as he was helping to reduce sail on board the yacht CV30, also known as GREAT Britain, amid increasing winds and sea state.

Spears was recovered from the sea by his fellow crew but could not be resuscitated. He was given a burial at sea the following day.

Clipper Ventures says the conclusions of investigations by the MCA and MAIB into the incident “are the cause of considerable concern” and involve “multiple errors and distortions of the truth” — including a suggestion by an MCA official that a nearby vessel could have taken Speirs’ body home to the UK for burial, when no such vessel existed.

Clipper Ventures also says it suspects that “significant and improper influence was applied to the MAIB investigation by the MCA team” in the bodies’ parallel investigations.

As of 1pm on Sunday 11 August, the MCA and MAIB have not released comment on Clipper Venture’s claims.

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Clipper Race Remembers Simon Speirs One Year On

The Clipper Race remembers British sailor Simon Speirs, who died one year ago today during Leg 3’s Southern Ocean crossing.

The GREAT Britain crew member was washed overboard while assisting with a headsail change during rough seas and high winds.

Despite being recovered by his fellow crew amid the difficult conditions, he never regained consciousness, and he was given a sea burial on 19 November 2017.

The Clipper Race tweeted this morning: “Our thoughts are with his loved ones and fellow crew. You are gone but not forgotten Simon, rest in peace.”

One year ago today our crew member Simon Speirs tragically lost his life during the Southern Ocean crossing. Our thoughts are with his loved ones and fellow crew. You are gone but not forgotten Simon, rest in peace. pic.twitter.com/hRzLs8jJ0T
— The Clipper Race (@ClipperRace) November 18, 2018

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Competitions

The most significant events for the Half Ton Class has been the annual Half Ton Cup which was sailed under the IOR rules until 1993. More recently this has been replaced with the Half Ton Classics Cup. The venue of the event moved from continent to continent with over-representation on French or British ports. In later years the event is held biennially. Initially, it was proposed to hold events in Ireland, Britain and France by rotation. However, it was the Belgians who took the ball and ran with it. The Class is now managed from Belgium.