British sailor, killed during Clipper yacht race, buried at sea

Amateur sailor Sarah Young, who died after being swept into the Pacific Ocean while competing in the global Clipper Race, has been laid to rest at sea.

As she was laid to rest by her team at 1am on Sunday, sailors aboard the other 11 yachts gathered together on their individual vessels and marked the solemn moment with a minute's silence.

Three readings were delivered, including the ballad Sea Fever by the English poet John Masefield.

Miss Young's parents are both dead and she has no siblings. Race organisers said they have been in touch with her elderly aunt in New Zealand who gave the ceremony her blessing.

Amateur sailor, Sarah Young, who died while competing in a global yacht race will be buried at sea, organisers said.

Ms Young, 40, was washed into the Pacific Ocean by a large wave as she tended to the mainsail aboard the IchorCoal vessel during the Clipper Round The World Yacht Race.

Race organisers said they had permission from Ms Young's partner and family to bury her at sea.

Ms Young's parents are both deceased and she has no siblings. Race organisers contacted her elderly aunt in New Zealand who gave the ceremony her blessing.

Her body is expected to be laid to rest at sea on Saturday evening in a ceremony which will draw on centuries-old maritime traditions.

A round the world sailor who was swept to her death was not tethered to her yacht, it has emerged.

Sarah Young, 40, was the second crew member to have died on the vessel in the last six months.

The deaths are the first in the Clipper race in 20 years.

Race founder Sir Robin Knox-Johnston insisted safety was "drummed into" sailors before they took part in the challenge.

He told the BBC: "The only person who can tell us why she wasn't tethered is Sarah herself, and of course she never will.

"Just not clipping on takes about three seconds and it's cost her her life."

Ms Young is thought to have died from either drowning or exposure.

Her death is now being investigated by race organisers.

The skipper of the GREAT Britain yacht, which is taking part in the Clipper round the world race, has paid tribute to a sailor on a competing team, who has died after swept away.

Sarah Young, 40, was swept away in high winds in the mid-north Pacific on Friday.

Peter Thornton said: "Extremely sad news about Sarah and we are all quite shocked and suddenly acutely aware of where and what we are in this world.

"I cannot imagine what IchorCoal and her family are going through right now so our thoughts are with all who knew and loved Sarah."

A crew member of the IchorCoal boat has paid tribute to Sarah Young, the second sailor to die on the vessel during the Clipper Race, describing her as "witty", "ballsy" and "caring".

Elliotte Ashcroft said on Facebook she was "utterly shocked by the devastating news".

Asked by a friend if tragedy had struck her team Ms Ashcroft replied: "Yes. Again."

Miss Young's death comes six months after that of Andrew Ashman, 49, who was killed on the same vessel after being knocked unconscious while sailing off the Portuguese coast.

A British woman has died while taking part in the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race.

Sarah Young, 40, was washed into the sea by a wave n the mid-north Pacific as she tended to the mainsail aboard the IchorCoal boat and was swept away in strong winds. She was not tethered to the vessel.

Miss Young's body was recovered by her crew who tried to resuscitate her, but she never regained consciousness, a race spokeswoman said.

Race organisers said a full investigation will now be carried out, as is standard practice, in cooperation with the appropriate authorities.

Ms Young, who was a keen adventurer, had wanted to take part in the race for a number of years and had celebrated her birthday days before setting sail from London at the end of last August.

Her death comes six months after that of Andrew Ashman, 49, from Kent who was killed on the same vessel after being knocked unconscious while sailing off the Portuguese coast.

His death was the first fatality in the history of the event which was established almost 20 years ago.