Experts have offered theories about how a thrill-seeking Canadian couple’s attempted transatlantic sailing expedition turned tragic last month, positing their homemade vessel may have been struck by a much larger ship soon after they departed Halifax on the country’s North East coast.
Earlier this month, the bodies of Brett Clibbery, 70, and Sarah Justine Packwood, 54, were found on a life raft washed up on Sable Island, Nova Scotia.
The area is ominously nicknamed the “Graveyard of the Atlantic” due to the large number of shipwrecks that wind up on its shores.
An official investigation is underway, and although no concrete answers have yet come to light, one leading theory is that their boat was badly damaged by a much larger vessel, forcing the couple to seek refuge in the life raft.
“While they do not have conclusive proof, [investigators] suspect the sailboat … was struck by a bulk carrier likely only a few days after departing Halifax,” a source close to the investigation revealed to Saltwire.
Investigators have reportedly inspected a carrier ship that was in the same area as the couple’s boat — named Theros — at the outset of its voyage, but the results of the probe have not been released to the public.
“The crew of the carrier ship told investigators there were no signs of damage and they were unaware of any collision with a smaller vessel,” the Daily Mirror writes.
The source surmised that the ship’s homemade additions might have presented additional problems, and veteran sailors told the outlet the excessive ballast from batteries and solar panels could have destabilized the boat.
The pair set sail June 11 on a journey that was supposed to take them across the Atlantic Ocean from Halifax to the Azores in their 42-foot yacht, which the couple built themselves.
The eco-friendly boat, which operated without a diesel engine, was due to arrive at its destination by July 2, to serve as a demonstration of how it’s possible to travel the world with electric, wind and solar-powered vessels.
The excursion was to be the couple’s first fully “green” journey on Theros, the building of which the couple chronicled on their YouTube channel, “Theros Adventures.”
Despite the swirling theories about how the doomed voyage turned deadly, the Canadian transportation safety board has not made any formal announcements indicating what happened
“At this time, we cannot say with complete certainty that the sailing vessel was struck by a ship, as we are still gathering information regarding the overdue sailing vessel Theros,” a spokesman said.
Clibbery and Packwood married on the yacht in 2016, one year after they met during a chance encounter at a bus stop in London, England.
Packwood was preparing to donate a kidney to her sister when she met Clibbery, who was visiting from Canada — a heartwarming story that was the center of a 2020 “How We Met” piece in The Guardian.
“We have been traveling and co-creating adventures ever since,” Packwood previously posted on YouTube.
Clibbery’s son, Brett, posted a loving tribute to the couple on Facebook, acknowledging the last few days had been really hard for the family, and news to emerge from the investigation has left it “hard to remain hopeful.”
He continued, “They were amazing people, and there isn’t anything that will fill the hole that has been left by their, so far, unexplained passing.
“Living will not be the same without your wisdom, and your wife was quickly becoming a beacon of knowledge, and kindness. I miss your smiles. I miss your voices. You will be forever missed.”
