The British-Canadian couple, who set off to sail across the Atlantic Ocean nearly six weeks ago, were found dead in a lifeboat off the Canadian coast. The bodies of Brett Clibbery and Sarah Packwood were found when their boat washed up on Sable Island off the coast of Nova Scotia, reports the New York Post.
The couple was on an ambitious journey across the Atlantic Ocean, sailing from Halifax to the Azores on their self-built, eco-friendly yacht, Theros. The 42-foot vessel, which ran entirely on electric, wind and solar power, was intended to demonstrate the feasibility of sustainable travel. The couple had been posting about the construction of Theros on their YouTube channel, “Theros Adventures,” and the trip was their first completely “green” trip.
They left Halifax Harbour on their yacht bound for the Azores region of Portugal on June 11. They were reported missing on June 18 and were found three weeks later on July 10.
Although initially reported to be from British Columbia, Ms Packwood is believed to be from Britain and Mr Clibbery from Canada. Formal identification is still pending.
The cause of death is not yet known. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police are investigating the incident.
His boat, the Theros, was badly damaged, and investigators suspected it had been hit by a larger ship.
The area in which they were sailing is known as the “Graveyard of the Atlantic” because of the large number of shipwrecks that have occurred there. The exact circumstances of the incident are still unknown, but investigators are exploring several theories.
One leading theory is that the Theros was hit by a bulk carrier, which would have caused significant damage to the sailboat. Investigators have inspected a carrier ship that was in the same area as Theros at the time of the incident, but they have not released their findings, SaltWire reported.
The carrier’s crew reported that they did not see any damage or collision, reports the Mirror. Some experienced sailors have suggested that homemade materials on board Theros may have contributed to the tragedy, particularly the excessive weight of batteries and solar panels, which may have destabilised the boat.
Brett Clibbery and Sarah Packwood met by chance at a London bus stop in 2015. At the time, Ms. Packwood was preparing to donate a kidney to her sister while Mr. Clibbery was visiting from Canada. This chance meeting led to them eventually falling in love and getting married in 2016 on their yacht, Theros.
