Frenchwoman fatally injured in sailing accident at Aegean 600 Rally

A 40-year-old French woman taking part in the Aegean 600 Rally died in a sailing accident off the coast of the island of Kasos on Monday evening.

According to preliminary reports on Tuesday, the woman was thrown into the water when gale-force winds whipped up surf up to two metres high in the region.

Another crew member, a 46-year-old Ukrainian, also fell overboard but was rescued and is in good health.

Meanwhile, a 61-year-old man sailing under the Polish flag was also injured in the same incident.

The Aegean 600 rally started on Sunday at Cape Sounio near Athens. 69 boats set course for the islands of Milos, Santorini and Kasos before continuing on to Karpathos, Rhodes, Kos and Patmos, turning around in Ikaria to return to the capital via Mykonos.