Australian authorities are assisting the family of Deirdre “Cookie” Sibly, a 67-year-old woman from Port Lincoln, South Australia, who is suspected to have died while sailing off the east coast of Africa. The tragic incident occurred in the Mozambique Channel, a notorious stretch of water between Madagascar and Mozambique.
Sibly had embarked on a journey from Reunion Island, a French territory in the Indian Ocean, in June. She was traveling with her friend, Pascal Mahe, a French national, on his yacht, the Acteon. The duo intended to sail to South Africa, but their voyage met an unexpected and fatal end.
Distress Call and Rescue Efforts
According to Sue Good, Sibly’s older sister, a distress call was made from the yacht on Wednesday evening local time. The call was picked up by a nearby container ship, which alerted the French coastguard. The coastguard then contacted Sibly’s family in Australia, who anxiously tracked the container ship’s movements throughout Thursday and into the night.
Despite efforts by the cargo ship’s crew to contact those aboard the Acteon, there was no sign of life. Eventually, sailors from a maxi yacht were able to board the drifting vessel and discovered the bodies of a man and a woman.
“I had a call from [the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade] at about 10am Friday morning, that’s when they told me someone was able to board the yacht and a man and woman had been found deceased,” Good told Guardian Australia.
The deceased have yet to be formally identified, and a family member may need to travel to Africa for the identification process.
Investigation and Repatriation
The yacht, still adrift with sails unfurled, is being tracked by satellite. The investigation into the incident is being conducted by officials in South Africa and Mauritius, in cooperation with local and French authorities. However, the process is moving slowly, much to the frustration of Sibly’s family.
“We would like answers to lots of questions and the next thing is to get her back here,” Good said, adding that the process could take months.
Sibly, a seasoned sailor with 40 years of experience, was described as having “the time of her life” during the voyage. Her companion, Mahe, had sailed around the world for about a decade, often solo. The pair had planned to sail to Durban and then Cape Town, where Sibly would fly home.
Reflections and Risks of Sailing
Sibly stayed in touch with her family through the travel app Polarsteps, updating them whenever she was on land. Her last message was sent on November 19, indicating that they were about to leave port for a 14-day sail southward.
“She knew it was dangerous, but she was really adventurous. She loved sailing, it was her whole world,” Good reflected.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is providing consular assistance to Sibly’s family, expressing their condolences during this distressing time. Due to privacy obligations, further details from the department remain undisclosed.
This tragic event underscores the inherent risks of oceanic sailing, even for experienced sailors. The Mozambique Channel, known for its challenging conditions, has claimed numerous vessels over the years. As investigations continue, the sailing community mourns the loss of two of its own, reflecting on the delicate balance between adventure and safety on the high seas.
