ollowing feedback from the
Marine Accident Investigation
Branch (MAIB), the Clipper Race
has appointed a qualified mate on board
each of its teams currently racing.
The addition of a second Clipper
employee, who will be independent of the
watch system in order to support each
of the professional skippers, comes after
the loss of crewmember Simon Speirs in
the race from Cape Town to Australia on
18 November.
Clipper Race founder and chairman,
Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, said: “Eight
years ago we introduced the CRCC
(Clipper Race Coxswain Certificate),
a qualification specially designed with
and approved by the MCA (Marine and
Coastguard Agency), which specifically
fit the purpose of the Clipper Race as it is
such a unique event in sailing.
“However, in light of the recent
incidents and as the Clipper Race
continues its dedication to maintaining
the highest safety standards, a qualified
mate has been appointed on board each
team, effective from [leg] four [which
started 2 December].”
Simon Speirs, 60, a retired property
solicitor from Bristol, fell overboard while
helping change the headsail in rough
conditions and winds gusting to 40 knots.
Speirs was reportedly clipped on with a
lifeline tether but became separated from
the yacht. He was recovered 36 minuteslater but was unable to be resuscitated.
Speirs’ death is the third fatality in the
last two editions. During the last race in
2016, Sarah Young, 40, died after being
washed overboard while not clipped
on from the yacht IchorCoal. Andrew
Ashman, 49, had previously died on the
same yacht, when he was accidentally
struck by the mainsheet.The MAIB investigation into the fatalities
of Young and Ashman resulted in a 73-
page report that was released in April- The MAIB found a ‘lack of effective
supervision featured in both accidents’
and recommended that future Clipper
Race yachts should be manned with
a second employee or ‘seafarer’ with
appropriate competence.
Following the death of Speirs, the
MCA has temporarily withdrawn
its acceptance of the CRCC as an
appropriate qualification, and Clipper
Ventures has had to employ a mate for
each yacht in addition to the skippers
and paying crewmembers. The minimum
qualification for each mate is a RYA
Yachtmaster Offshore certificate.
How did the Clipper Race find 11
qualified sailors so quickly? Some are
crewmembers who already have the
qualification, others are Clipper Race
staff. “But most came from the 5,
ex-Clipper Race crew, some of whom
had since obtained the necessary RYA
qualifications ... and wanted to help
support the organisation at very short
notice,” Sir Robin said.
Sir Robin explained that when the
MGN 280 standards for commercially
operating yachts came into practice,
Clipper questioned the requirements for
the second qualified person.
“The Clipper Race proposed, and the
MCA accepted, that what was required
was people with some experience to
take on the position of second qualified
person as set out in MGN 280. The result
was the MCA-approved Clipper Coxswain
Certificate, which was an exemption to
the MGN 280 requirement.
“This course was for selected Clipper
Race crew who had shown the necessary
ability during training and who were
then put through the RYA Yachtmaster
Offshore theory syllabus but did their
practical on the Clipper 70s and not on
the 40-footers as used by the RYA. The
difference is enormous between these
boats, the loads being so much greater
on the Clipper 70s.”Clipper Race required to
include qualified mates
‘clipper has had to employ a
mate for each yacht’
F
ELEVEN BOATS IN CURRENT CLIPPER RACE GAIN AN ADDITIONAL CREW
The Clipper Race
can face extreme
conditions: the
event has suffered
three fatalities in its
past two editionsON THE WIND
12 February 2018