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Sailor Sarah Young Dies in Clipper Round the World Yacht Race

Young, 40, died after she was swept overboard by a wave during high winds while traveling from Qingdao, China, to Seattle, the race said Friday.
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A sailor participating in a long-distance race died after being swept overboard in the Pacific Ocean en route to Seattle, the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race said Friday.

Sarah Young, a 40-year-old businesswoman from London, was knocked from the IchorCoal boat by a wave in winds of up to 46 mph, event organizers said in a statement Friday.

Young was recovered from the ocean about an hour after she was swept overboard and crews tried to resuscitate her, organizers said in a statement.

Image: Clipper crew member Sarah Young
Clipper crew member Sarah Young, center.Clipper Race

A cause of death has not been determined but drowning or exposure is suspected, race officials said. She was not tethered to the yacht.

"On behalf of everyone at Clipper Ventures, I am deeply saddened by the loss of Sarah. She was a very popular and integral member of the Clipper Race family and knew our boats well, having sailed with us since London last summer," race founder Robin Knox-Johnston said in a statement.

"The safety of our crew has always been and continues to be our main priority and we shall investigate the incident immediately in full cooperation with the authorities," Knox-Johnston said.

The 46,000-mile race is in its 10th edition. Young was on day 12 of the ninth race from Qingdao, China, to Seattle, the race said in a statement.

In September, a British crew member of a yacht taking part in Clipper Round the World race died in an accident off the coast of Portugal.