Couple found dead after attempted Atlantic crossing
The bodies of Sarah Packwood, a Briton, and her Canadian husband Brett Clibbery have been discovered on a life raft washed ashore nearly six weeks after they set out on an Atlantic sailing voyage. The couple departed from Nova Scotia on their 13-meter (42-foot) eco-friendly yacht, Theros, with plans to sail to the Azores, roughly 3,228 kilometers away.
Packwood and Clibbery were last seen on July 12, when their life raft was found on Sable Island, near Nova Scotia. The couple had been reported missing on June 18, just a week after starting their journey. The expected duration of their trip was 21 days.
In a Facebook post, Clibbery’s son, James, confirmed their deaths, expressing deep sorrow over the loss. “There isn’t anything that will fill the hole that has been left by their, so far unexplained passing,” he wrote.
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The circumstances of their demise remain unclear, with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police investigating. One theory suggests their yacht may have been struck by a cargo ship that did not notice the collision. Investigators are also considering the possibility that the crew might have been below deck while Theros was on autopilot.
The Canadian coastguard and military have yet to locate any wreckage or signs of the yacht. The couple’s YouTube channel, Theros Adventures, detailed their “Green Odyssey” trip, aimed at demonstrating sustainable travel using sails, solar panels, and an electric engine repurposed from a car.
Packwood and Clibbery’s journey began with their meeting in London in 2015. They married the following year on their yacht in Canada and later reaffirmed their vows at Stonehenge in 2017, as noted in Packwood’s personal blog.
