Retired solicitor dies after falling overboard while changing sail during round the world yacht race

A retired lawyer who paid £45,000 to take part in a round the world yacht race has died after being swept overboard as he helped change a sail.

Simon Speirs, 60, became separated from the 70ft boat despite being attached to it by a safety tether, which appeared to fail when he was washed into the sea.

At the time, the crew were battling to maintain their course between South Africa and Australia when they encountered a force eight gale with winds gusting up to 50 miles per hour.

Mr Speirs went overboard while on the foredeck of the ocean racer on the sixth day of the leg of the Clipper Round the World Race as he assisted with a headsail change on board the yacht “Great Britain”.

Despite being hauled back on board within 36 minutes and being administered CPR, he never regained consciousness.

He is the third sailor to die during the gruelling challenge in the last two years.

His family today said in a statement that his safety harness had appeared to fail and the issue would now become the focus of the investigation into his death.

They said: “He died on the deck of the Team Great Britain boat, of which he was immensely proud. He died doing what he loved and had dreamt of doing for so long.”

Mr Speirs, a retired property solicitor from Bristol, was one of six crew members on board completing an entire circumnavigation of the world.

A keen charity fundraiser, his love for sailing stemmed from following the exploits of celebrated yachtsmen Sir Francis Chichester, Sir Robin Knox-Johnston and Sir Chay Blyth.

Less than a fortnight ago, he wrote a blog about his “amazing” experience on board the vessel with a “great bunch of people”.

He said: “So, am I having fun? Yes, I think so, although it is very hard work and not as unalloyed pleasure as my armchair anticipation hoped for. That said, it is an amazing experience and one that one could never experience in any other way.”

He also admitted having an “ambivalent” attitude towards the boat which at times “flies like a bird” but in treacherous conditions made them feel “as though we are slaves to an unforgiving and demanding and demonic Beast!”.

He also wrote that he “never had any doubts” about his safety on board.

Organisers said he was clipped on to the boat with either a short or long safety tether, which a spokeswoman said crew use to attach themselves to fixings on board from their lifejackets.

In harsher conditions, those on board might use both tethers as an extra safety precaution, but this can restrict their movement as they carry out work, she added. Competitors have now been told to use both clips as an extra precaution.   Sir Robin, who co-founded the race, said Mr Speirs was a popular and sensible man as he admitted the death was “absolutely tragic".

"The tether was state-of-the-art - it was new for this race, it is top of the range, it has got type approval by everyone," Sir Robin added.

"All we know is that he was tethered on and that something has gone wrong. Whether it is a type failure or a one-off failure - we won't know that until it has been examined."

He said: "I just feel for his family. Here he was fulfilling his dream and then it has turned into a nightmare for them.”

A sailor with 40 years experience, father-of-three Mr Speirs had signed up as a crew member for the £45,000 year-long adventure which set off from the UK on August 20.

He was given a sea burial on Sunday as requested by his family. The Marine Accident Investigation Branch is investigating.

Until late 2015 the race, which was founded more than two decades ago, had an impressive safety record.

But in September of that year, British amateur sailor Andrew Ashman, 49, died in the race after being hit by a rope. Last year company director Sarah Young, 40, died when she was rushed overboard while not clipped on.

The MAIB said both crew members failed to follow basic training advice.