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Couple who set sail on self-built eco-friendly yacht found dead in lifeboat

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A British-Canadian couple who crossed the Atlantic about six weeks ago have been found dead in a lifeboat off the coast of Canada. The bodies of Brett Clibbery and Sarah Packwood were discovered after their raft washed ashore on Sable Island off the coast of Nova Scotia, the NY Post reported.

The couple had embarked on an ambitious journey across the Atlantic, sailing from Halifax to the Azores on their self-built, eco-friendly yacht Theros. Powered entirely by electricity, wind and solar power, the 42-foot vessel was designed to demonstrate the feasibility of sustainable travel. The couple had chronicled the construction of Theros on their YouTube channel Theros Adventures and this voyage was to be their first completely “green” voyage.

They left Halifax Harbour on June 11 aboard their yacht bound for the Azores in Portugal. They were reported missing on June 18 and found three weeks later, on July 10.

Although initially thought to be from British Columbia, it is now believed that Ms. Packwood was from the UK and Mr. Clibbery from Canada. Official identification is still pending.

The cause of death is not yet known. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police is investigating the incident.

Their sailboat Theros was badly damaged and investigators suspected it was rammed by a larger ship.

The area where they sailed is notorious as the “Graveyard of the Atlantic” due to the large number of shipwrecks that occurred there. The exact circumstances of the incident are still unknown, but investigators are looking into several theories.

One of the leading theories is that Theros was rammed by a bulk carrier, which could have caused significant damage to the sailboat. Investigators have examined a carrier ship that was in the same area as Theros at the time of the incident, but they have not yet released their findings, according to Saltwire.

The carrier’s crew said they did not notice any damage or collision, the Mirror reported. Some experienced sailors suggested that Theros’s homemade additions may have contributed to the tragedy, particularly the excessive weight of the batteries and solar panels, which may have destabilized the boat.

Brett Clibbery and Sarah Packwood met by chance at a bus stop in London in 2015. At the time, Ms Packwood was preparing to donate a kidney to her sister while Mr Clibbery was visiting from Canada. This chance meeting led to them eventually falling in love and marrying on their yacht Theros in 2016.

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