Aussie sailor Deirdre “Cookie” Sibly and her companion have died in mysterious circumstances on her yacht off the coast of South Africa.
Ms. Sibly and her French friend Pascal were sailing near Madagascar once they issued a distress signal on Thursday – but when local authorities reached the yacht, they found the pair dead on board.
Each of them were seasoned sailors.
The 67-year-old Port Lincoln woman’s family at the moment are waiting for answers and fears pirates could have been involved.
“She was a really adventurous, outdoor soul. Her whole life revolved across the sea and yachts,” Ms. Sibly’s sister Sue Good told 9News.
The pair had met up on Reunion Island in June and were sailing down the Mozambique Channel, heading for Durban, where Deirdre was planning to fly home.
“They’ve been on the journey of a lifetime and he or she was having the time of her life,” Ms. Good said.
“We only know that they were found deceased on the yacht – we don’t know anything about how that happened.”
“How could this occur to 2 blissful people doing what they loved?”
Talking to 9News, Ms. Good added the Mozambique Channel “isn’t a really protected place on this planet to be sailing” and Ms. Sibly “knew that.”
On Friday, the yacht remained adrift as authorities made plans to retrieve it.
A friend posted a tribute to social media describing Ms. Sibly because the “ultimate adventurer” who “never let the grass grow under her feet.”
“She took all life had to supply and ran toward every opportunity with unbridled energy, joy and enthusiasm to explore, to learn and most significantly, to have a good time,” the friend wrote.
“Probably the most excellent bonus mom, passionate teacher, ocean advocate and seasoned sailor. I loved every second I spent together with her.”
Others remembered Ms. Sibly as “the most effective aquatic teacher” and an “incredible person.”
Aussie sailor Deirdre “Cookie” Sibly and her companion have died in mysterious circumstances on her yacht off the coast of South Africa.
Ms. Sibly and her French friend Pascal were sailing near Madagascar once they issued a distress signal on Thursday – but when local authorities reached the yacht, they found the pair dead on board.
Each of them were seasoned sailors.
The 67-year-old Port Lincoln woman’s family at the moment are waiting for answers and fears pirates could have been involved.
“She was a really adventurous, outdoor soul. Her whole life revolved across the sea and yachts,” Ms. Sibly’s sister Sue Good told 9News.
The pair had met up on Reunion Island in June and were sailing down the Mozambique Channel, heading for Durban, where Deirdre was planning to fly home.
“They’ve been on the journey of a lifetime and he or she was having the time of her life,” Ms. Good said.
“We only know that they were found deceased on the yacht – we don’t know anything about how that happened.”
“How could this occur to 2 blissful people doing what they loved?”
Talking to 9News, Ms. Good added the Mozambique Channel “isn’t a really protected place on this planet to be sailing” and Ms. Sibly “knew that.”
On Friday, the yacht remained adrift as authorities made plans to retrieve it.
A friend posted a tribute to social media describing Ms. Sibly because the “ultimate adventurer” who “never let the grass grow under her feet.”
“She took all life had to supply and ran toward every opportunity with unbridled energy, joy and enthusiasm to explore, to learn and most significantly, to have a good time,” the friend wrote.
“Probably the most excellent bonus mom, passionate teacher, ocean advocate and seasoned sailor. I loved every second I spent together with her.”
Others remembered Ms. Sibly as “the most effective aquatic teacher” and an “incredible person.”
