Safety 'drummed into' crew on clipper race, founder says

Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, the founder the Clipper Race, said that everyone was "in shock" over the death of sailor Sarah Young but insisted that intense training is carried out before the event.

He said that safety is "drummed into" crews before they take part in the round-the-world yacht challenge.

He said everyone involved in the race was in "shock" following the death of Miss Young, 40, who was washed overboard in the Pacific while sailing from China to Seattle aboard the yacht IchorCoal.

Her death was just the second in just six months after fellow Briton Andrew Ashman who was a crew member aboard the same boat on the same edition of the biennial race.

Despite being amateurs, both were experienced sailors and Sir Robin, who in 1969 became the first person to sail solo and non-stop around the world, said that safety was paramount during their training.

Miss Young was one of the sailors taking part in the entire round-the-world challenge and had already sailed more than half way and covered 20,000 nautical miles before setting off from the latest leg of the race on March 21.

She had pulled out of part of the challenge trip after her mother died, organisers said.

Sir Robin described her as a "very popular member of the crew, a very easy person to like".

The crew will now continue on their journey to Seattle, and Sir Robin said the journey would help them deal with their loss together.

He said: "It gives them a focus, gives them something to deal with, there is the security of the boat and each other's company.

"Do I think they will race very hard? No, I suspect they won't. I should think they are in shock and will want to take it easy for a bit and I have to say I think if I was in their position I would do the same."