Tributes pour in for ‘amazing’couple found dead in lifeboat after trying to cross the Atlantic in wind-powered yacht
HEARTBREAKING tributes have been paid to an “amazing couple” who were found dead in a washed-up lifeboat while trying to sail across the Atlantic.
Sarah Packwood, 54, from Warwick, and Brett Clibbery, 70, were heading to the Azores in a wind and solar-powered vessel called “Theros” when they went missing nearly a month ago.
The couple were reported missing a week after leaving Nova Scotia, Canada, on June 11 in their 42ft sailing boat.
Their two bodies were found in a three-metre life raft after it washed ashore on Sable Island – 180 miles off the coast of Nova Scotia – last week.
It remains unclear how the couple got into trouble, but police in Halifax have launched an investigation into their deaths.
It is understood Brett was carrying a Garmin GPS device which pinged a final signal around 40 miles south-west of Sable Island on June 13.
Their yacht Theros has not yet been recovered.
Brett’s son James posted a tribute on Facebook which read: “The past few days have been very hard.
“My father James Brett Clibbery, and his wife, Sarah Justine Packwood, have regrettably passed away.
“There is still an investigation, as well as a DNA test to confirm, but with all the news, it is hard to remain hopeful.
“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.”
Paying a heartbreaking tribute on Facebook, one pal wrote: “This is an awful situation and know will be in my thoughts always. Love you.”
While another user said: “I loved your father and Sarah so so much and my heart is aching for you and your family.”
A third friend shared: “Your dad was a great man. My sincere condolences.”
How the couple's planned voyage turned to tragedy
June 11 – Sarah and Brett leave Halifax, Nova Scotia, on their sailing boat Theros
June 18 – The couple are declared missing and a search begins
July 10 – Their two bodies are found in a life raft on Sable Island
July 13 – Brett’s son James posts a tribute on social media
‘AMAZING COUPLE’
Brett, a Canadian, and Sarah first met at a bus stop in London in 2015 before getting married on the yacht a year later.
They also had a Celtic marriage ceremony at Stonehenge and then moved to Canada where they bought land on Salt Spring Island, near Vancouver.
Poet, musician and reiki healer Sarah was an “accomplished sailor” learning at university in England.
In a farewell video message before the couple departed, Sarah said: “Captain Brett and First Mate Sarah set sail on the 2nd leg of The Green Odyssey on board Theros – GibSea 42 foot sailboat.
“Powered by the wind and sun. Heading east to the Azores. It’s probably the biggest adventure of our lives so far.”
The duo had previously sailed 5,000 miles together along the Pacific Coast of Canada, the USA and South America.
Sarah, who blogged about their travels, wrote: “We spent a year aboard Theros on the high seas together, sailing on the first leg of our round-the-world voyage in stages from Salt Spring Island, British Columbia to Dartmouth in Nova Scotia, via Central America, the Panama Canal and crossing the Western Caribbean.”
The pair also ran a YouTube channel to keep their family and friends updated on their journeys.
One theory suggests the Theros was hit by a bigger boat after leaving Halifax.
“While they do not have conclusive proof, (investigators) suspect the sailboat whose crew washed up dead on Sable Island was struck by a bulk carrier (that was not loaded) likely only a few days after departing Halifax,” a source told Canadian news site Saltwire.