Sarah Young passed away on April 22, 2016, during the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race due to an accidental drowning.
Sarah Young, a 40-year-old businesswoman from London, was a crew member on the IchorCoal boat during the Clipper 2015-16 Round the World Yacht Race. The tragic incident occurred in the Pacific Ocean, roughly 3,000 miles from land. It was the race’s seventh stage, between Qingdao, China, and Seattle, USA.
During the race, Young was on deck and not clipped on with her safety tether at a time when the sea conditions were rough. A wave swept her overboard, and although she was recovered from the sea by her fellow crew members within an hour, attempts to resuscitate her were unsuccessful.
The crew reported that Young was unconscious but still alive when initially recovered from the water; however, she never regained consciousness. The cause of death was confirmed as drowning. The incident was a shock to the entire Clipper Race community, as it was the second fatality in that edition of the race. The previous fatality had occurred just months earlier when another IchorCoal crew member, Andrew Ashman, was knocked unconscious by the mainsheet and subsequently died.
Sarah Young’s death highlighted the inherent risks of ocean racing, despite the rigorous safety training and precautions taken by race participants. Her loss was deeply felt among the sailing community, and it led to further discussions on safety measures and protocols within the sport.