Andrew Simpson, UK Olympic Champion, Dies

Officials are investigating the death of Olympic gold medallist Andrew Simpson who died after his yacht capsized in San Francisco Bay during training for the America's Cup.

Simpson had been sailing on the Artemis, Sweden's entry in the upcoming race, when the catamaran turned over near Treasure Island and he became trapped underneath for about 10 minutes, his racing team said in a statement.

Attempts were made to revive the 36-year-old both in the water and on shore, but he was unable to be saved.

Amercia's Cup bosses have promised a full investigation into the accident.

The probe into the cause of the tragedy is in its early stages, however, there are suggestions that the catamaran had been in and out of a workshop with problems on its body work.

Sky's Siobhan Robbins added: "One of the things that they might be looking at is whether the actual fabric of the catamaran played a part in this. There are also reports that after the crash the main beam of the catamaran had split - the beam that joins the front and the back. However, as yet, there's no clear cause as to why this happened."

Artemis Racing said: "It is with immense sadness that Artemis Racing confirms the tragic death of crew member Andrew 'Bart' Simpson in San Francisco."

The team's chief executive Paul Cayard added: "The entire Artemis Racing team is devastated by what happened. Our heartfelt condolences are with Andrew's wife and family."

Simpson, who served as the Swedish team's strategist, was one of 11 members of crew on board the 72ft catamaran.

He was sailing alongside his childhood friend and Olympic partner Iain Percy, who is the sailing team's director and tactician.

Six weeks ago, Simpson tweeted: "Moving the family to San Fran for 6 months is pretty hectic!!! The cup should be fun though!!"

Simpson had won two Olympic medals, including a gold medal in Beijing in 2008 and silver in last year's Games in London, both in the Star class.

He was awarded an MBE in the 2009 New Year Honours list.

Born in Chertsey, Surrey, Simpson started sailing at the age of six with his father in Christchurch, Dorset, according to Tyler Sports Management.

Tributes have poured in from the world of sailing and beyond.

A statement from Sir Ben Ainslie's Oracle Team read: "Today is a sad day for all of us in the sailing community. Andrew Simpson was a great person, a terrific sailor, and a good friend to all of our team.

"Our thoughts are with his family and the entire Artemis team. He will be dearly missed."

The British Olympic Association paid tribute today to a "treasured and accomplished member of Team GB".

Olympic silver medallist windsurfer Nick Dempsey tweeted: "Going to miss you Bart", while Luke Patience, who took silver in the men's 470 class at London 2012, wrote: "Devastated. Bart, you are a true inspiration."

Simon Shaw, sailing double world match racing champion, added: "Today we lost a courageous sailor. A true friend from school, till now, my heart is with his family."

Former British track cyclist Sir Chris Hoy tweeted: "Shocked to hear of the death of Andrew Simpson, Olympic Champ sailor. Met him a number of times, great guy. My thoughts are with his family."

The Royal Yachting Association (RYA) and British Sailing Team said they were "devastated" by the news.

RYA Olympic manager Stephen Park described the sportsman as an "incredibly driven, fantastic guy", and told Sky News it was too early to say what caused the yacht to capsize.

"It wouldn't be appropriate for us to speculate. The boats are all new boats, we haven't seen the likes of these type of catamarans before. They are incredibly high performance boats with massive loads and sailing around at huge speed. And when you have those combinations of things on board then of course accidents can and clearly do happen."

John Derbyshire, RYA's performance director, said: "Andrew is someone I've worked closely with since the age of 16 - he was a great talent, and a key figure in our World Class Programme over many years culminating in his well-deserved Olympic success.

"He was a huge inspiration to others, both within the British Sailing Team and across the nation and our deepest sympathies go out to his family at this terrible time."

In a statement the America's Cup said: "Andrew was an immensely popular and respected member of the sailing community, and his two Olympic medals were testament to his talent.

"His easy-going personality made him loved by many; always friendly, always smiling and always supportive of others."

The US Sailing Team tweeted its shock and sadness at the news, saying: "A tremendously sad day for the sport of sailing. Our thoughts are with the family of Olympic Champion Andrew Simpson, and Artemis Racing."

The British Sonar Team tweeted: "Our thoughts and prayers go out to Bart's family and team, a true sailing legend."

Double gold medal winning Olympic rower James Cracknell tweeted: "Tragic, Olympic sailor Andrew Simpson's death in San Fran. Reminder no situation totally safe/controlled. No words enough for Leah & Freddie."

Sports Minister Hugh Robertson said: "Andrew Simpson's death is a huge loss to sailing, the Olympic movement and British sport. I got to know him a little as he prepared for London 2012 and as well as being a talented sailor, was one of the nicest and most genuine people you could wish to meet. My thoughts and sympathies are with his family and friends."

The Artemis is a specially built catamaran that can reach speeds of 45mph (72kph).

US Coast Guard Lt Jeannie Crump said the extent of the damage to the boat is unknown, but she said a salvage boat was on scene to tow the catamaran to Clipper Cove.

She added Coast Guard officials are not sure what caused the catamaran to capsize, but an investigation has been launched.

Julia Prodis Sulek, a journalist with the San Jose Mercury News, told Sky News: "The wind was blowing between 15 and 20 knots which are very normal wind patterns for San Francisco Bay this time of year.

"I spoke with a sailing expert who said it looks like the whole boat had flipped over and that a structural crossbeam that holds the front and back of the boat together might have broken."

The Artemis AC72 is not the first America's Cup boat to capsize on San Francisco Bay. In October last year, the Oracle Racing team's catamaran capsized in 25 knot winds and strong tides swept it four miles past the Golden Gate Bridge.

Sailing commentator Alec Wilkinson told Sky News: "The very first AC72 that went out on the water with the defenders of the America's Cup, the Oracle team, got a manoeuvre wrong - the bow pitched into the water and over they went in a cartwheel-type movement.

"The designers have been working on these boats for a couple of years but the actual training time has only been since about January so everybody is very inexperienced on these boats and no one one really knows how far you can push them yet."

Another crew member on board the Artemis, who has not been named, is said to have suffered minor injuries when the catamaran turned over.

The rest of the 11-man crew has been accounted for and taken back to their dock in Alameda in a boat operated by Oracle Racing.

It is the second time a sailor has died during training for the America's Cup.

In 1999, Martin Wizner of the Spanish Challenge was killed almost instantly when he was hit in the head by a broken piece of equipment.