List of fatal accidents in sailboat racing
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Oceanic yacht racing is one of the most dangerous sports in the world.[1] It was particularly dangerous in the early days, when oceanic racing was more like early mountain climbing in terms of sense of adventure and achievement. Modern safety and communication equipment has improved safety; however, like any sport in the natural environment, risk is always present. In many races, participants have changed from amateur explorers to professional athletes.
| Race Name | Date | Name | Place | Boat | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whitbread / Volvo Ocean Race | 1973–1974 | Paul Waterhouse, Dominique Guillet, Bernie Hosking |
Southern Ocean | Tauranga, 33 Export, Great Britain II (respectively) |
Each swept overboard (Hosking twice)[2][3] |
| Whitbread / Volvo Ocean Race | 1989 | Tony Phillips | Southern Ocean | Creighton Naturally | Swept overboard and recovered too late |
| Volvo Ocean Race | 18 May 2006 |  Hans Horrevoets (NED) |
Off Land's End  |
ABN Amro Volvo 70 | Washed overboard and recovered |
| Clipper Round the World Yacht Race | 5 Sep 2015 | Andrew Ashman (GBR)[4] |
Atlantic Ocean | IchorCoal / Clipper 70 | Head Injury Boom/Mainsheet |
| Clipper Round the World Yacht Race | 1 April 2016 | Sarah Young (GBR)[5] |
Pacific Ocean | IchorCoal / Clipper 70 | Swept overboard |
| Clipper Round the World Yacht Race | 18 Nov 2017 | Simon Speirs (GBR)[6] |
Indian Ocean | Great Britain / Clipper 70 | Swept overboard |
| Volvo Ocean Race | 26 Mar 2018 | John Fisher (GBR)[7] |
Southern Ocean | Team Sun Hung Kai/Scallywag Volvo Ocean 65 | Swept overboard |
Deaths during solo round-the-world races and record attempts
| Race Name | Date | Name | Place | Boat | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday Times Golden Globe Race | 1969 | Donald Crowhurst (GBR) |
Atlantic Ocean | Teignmouth Electron | Lost at sea, Possible suicide |
| BOC Challenge | 1986 |  Jacques de Roux (FRA) |
Southern Ocean | Skoiern IV | Lost at sea |
| Vendée Globe | 1992 | Nigel Burgess (GBR) |
Atlantic Ocean | Nigel Burgess Yachts | Lost at sea |
| Vendée Globe | 1992 |  Mike Plant (USA) |
Atlantic Ocean | Coyote | Lost at sea prior to departure |
| Vendée Globe | 1997 |  Gerry Roufs (CAN) |
Southern Ocean | Groupe LG 2 | Lost at sea |
