NATIONAL NEWS - Two experienced international sailors travelling to Durban from Reunion Island were found dead under mysterious circumstances in the Mozambique Channel last week, prompting an international investigation and fears of possible piracy.
According to reports, Australian sailor Deirdre ‘Cookie’ Sibly and her French companion, Pascal Mahe, were en route from Mozambique to Durban when a distress call was issued from their yacht.
The Witness reports that the vessel was later discovered adrift near Madagascar, not far off the South African coastline.
By the time authorities boarded the yacht, which had reportedly continued sailing under full sail, both sailors were found dead.
No formal identification has been released, but Sibly’s family in Australia say they have been informed that the deceased pair match the description of the missing travellers.
Sibly’s sister, Sue Good, told ABC News that cargo and container ships had shadowed the drifting yacht after picking up its distress call, while attempts to contact those on board went unanswered.
“[The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade] told me that two people were found deceased on the yacht, a male and female,” she said.
“We believe it was Deirdre and Pascal. They had left Mozambique and were heading for Durban.”
She told the news agency that her sister had spent decades at sea and had been in regular contact while making her way down the coast. The plan, she said, was to reach Durban and, if weather allowed, continue to Cape Town before Sibly flew home.
Describing her sister as ‘an adventurous, outdoor soul’, Good said Sibly had been ‘having the time of her life’ on what was meant to be a dream voyage.
International and Australian officials are now investigating the deaths. While other reports have suggested the possibility of a pirate attack, authorities have not confirmed whether foul play is suspected.
The incident happened in the Mozambique Channel, a notoriously unpredictable stretch of water known for dangerous weather patterns and a history of piracy.
The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said it is providing consular support to Sibly’s family but declined to comment further.
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