Clipper Race Fatality

In its 20-year history, the Clipper Race, a round-the-world race in multiple legs for paying crew, has had an excellent safety record. In the last edition, a crewman who fell overboard during the wild ride from Qingdao to San Francisco was successfully recovered, despite being separated from the boat for an hour and 40 minutes. More than 3,300 amateur crew have sailed in previous races. There has never been a fatality. Until now.

In the wee hours on Saturday, the Clipper 70 IchorCoal was sailing in moderate seas, with the wind building into the high 20s, about 120 miles off the coast of Portugal, in Leg 1 from Southend, UK, to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Andrew Ashman, 49, was helping to reef the main when he was hit with the mainsheet — and possibly the boom — and knocked unconscious. "He was given immediate medical assistance and attempted resuscitation but failed to regain consciousness," stated the official announcement. "The boat linked immediately by satellite phone to the medical team at Praxes Medical Group, the Clipper Race remote telemedicine support service based in Halifax, Canada, where a doctor provided additional advice and guidance during the emergency." IchorCoal, skippered by Brit Darren Ladd, diverted to Porto, Portugal.

Following a unanimous crew decision and with the blessing of Ashman’s brother, IchorCoal officially resumed racing yesterday. "Andy’s brother Keith came out to Porto and has been a massively positive force for the team," said Ladd. "Andy had his own catchphrase, as anytime I asked him to do something he would say ‘Roger that, boss.’ When we talk about Andy we all say ‘Roger that.’ In his memory and in his honor, we have stuck those words on the transom." The boat was seen off by event founder Sir Robin Knox-Johnston.

Clipper Race crewmembers come from all over the world — several hail from the West Coast of North America. Ashman was a Brit. A paramedic from Orpington, Kent, he started sailing when he was 16 and was a highly experienced mariner.