CV30

General information

Course/Position

Latest news

MAIB published report on deadly accident

On November 18, 2017 a crewman fell overboard from the foredeck of the "CV30" 1500 nautical miles west of Fremantle. The Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) published its report on the accident on June 20, 2019. The accident occurred following an accidental gybe in very rough seas while the crew were lowering the headsail. The crewman was initially secured to the yacht by his tether, but before the crew could recover him on board his tether hook distorted and released. After the fall overboard, the skipper, who was on the helm, tried to slow the yacht and manoeuvre to recover the crewman but his ability to do so was limited as a result of damage sustained during the gybe. The crewman was recovered 32 minutes later but sadly with no signs of life. The MAIB document outlines several safety issues, makes recommendations and draws attention to related publications Safety issues. *The dangers of lateral loading of tether hooks and the importance of tether securing points arrangement to ensure tether hooks cannot become entangled. *The importance of adequately risk assessing foredeck operations to ensure sufficient control measures are put in place to keep crew safe. *Ensuring tethered man overboard recovery procedures are effective and regularly drilled. *Minimising yacht defects to avoid undue workload for the crew, contributing to their fatigue, lowering morale and increasing the chance of mistakes *Safety recommendations (2019/110, 2019/111 and 2019/112) have been made to the British Standards Institution (BSI) Committee, World Sailing and Spinlock regarding updating guidance to raise awareness of the dangers of laterally loading safety tether hooks. *Safety recommendations (2019/113 and 2019/114) have also been made to Clipper Ventures to review and update its risk assessments and procedures particularly for foredeck operations and methods for recovery of both tethered and untethered man overboards, as well as yacht maintenance and repair aspects. Full report: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5d079e0240f0b609cab64d40/2019-7-CV30.pdf

British sailor died after being swept over board

The British sailor Simon Spears, 60, died after being swept overboard from the "CV 30" in the Southern Ocean during a round-the-world yacht race in heavy seas on No 19, 2017. He was clipped on with a safety tether, but was separated from the yacht. He was unconscious when gathered back on board 36 minutes later but efforts to revive him failed. The death occurred on the 18th day of the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race while the fleet was racing from South Africa to Australia. The boat still had 1500 miles to go before reaching Fremantle in Western Australia. The man was buried on sea.