A sailor has died during a yacht race commemorating the Royal Escape Race from Brighton.
The sailor died in the Channel yesterday (Friday 26 May), having fallen from a yacht into the sea at about 2pm.
The incident happened in French waters, north of Fécamp, after the race started from Brighton Marina yesterday.
The French rescue services sent a helicopter and lifeboat to look for the man, who was reported to be from the Greater Manchester area.
The casualty was winched aboard the helicopter and taken to hospital in Le Havre, the French authorities said.
Sussex Yacht Club said today: “We are deeply saddened by the tragic loss of one of fellow sailors yesterday.
“Sussex Yacht Club are working with the police, Maritime and Coastguard Agency and the Marine Accident Investigation Bureau to assist with their inquiries.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the family, friends and supporting our fellow sailors at this difficult time.”
The event is organised by the Sussex Yacht Club and the Société des Régates de Fécamp.
This year is the 43rd running of the Royal Escape Race commemorating the flight of King Charles II in 1651.
He fled after the Battle of Worcester with soldiers hot in pursuit and searching the town in vain for “a tall black man 6ft 4in high”.
The King was spirited to safety by a boat owner and captain called Nicholas Tattersall and spent the next nine years in exile.
Dear Frank
I find the last three paragraphs very inappropriate considering the seriousness and sadness of a death.
The safety of a 17thC man hailed as something glorious when a man has died was rather horrible to read.
My husband and friends were in the race.
Cathy
Dear Catherine
While I’m saddened by the loss of life, I find your comment highly inappropriate. You may know all about the Royal Escape, but not everyone does. At the very least, the context is helpful in understanding why the race takes place and follows the route that it does.
I’m also mildly surprised that your inappropriate comment has been published, but I guess it says something about tolerance, even for somewhat distasteful comments.
I just learned about this in conversation by a Yacht owner, I googled it later and then read this as it was at the top of the search. I thought as I read the last three paragraphs uncomfortable, if I wanted to later learn the historic side of the race I could easily do this. I’m writing this as I then read the reply by Catherine and understood totally why she would be upset as it could if been her husband or a friend this happened to. Sadly I then read the reply by Tattersall Ghost how unpleasant and unkind. I then remembered wise words from my French Teacher after someone had been selfish and unkind to me at school. He said “Sadly you will meet people like thst in life, and they never ever learn the trail of hurt they leave everywhere they go” Wise words
RIP Sailer