TSB concludes investigation into sailboat that disappeared off Nova Scotia
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada has recently wrapped up its investigation into the mysterious disappearance of the Theros, a sailboat that vanished off the coast of Nova Scotia in June. Despite their efforts, the board was unable to definitively determine what exactly happened to the vessel.
According to a report released on Feb. 10, the incident that led to the deaths of the Theros’s two crew members appears to be “consistent with an occurrence involving a fire on board the sailing vessel.” The Theros set sail from Halifax on June 10, 2024, en route to the Azores, Portugal. Concerns were raised when the boat’s satellite communication device failed to update its position on the website, prompting someone to contact the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre in Halifax on June 18.
Upon investigation, it was discovered that the Theros’s emergency beacon was unregistered and showed no recent activity. The vessel’s automatic identification system ceased transmitting a signal on June 13 at 12:21 p.m. AT. Despite attempts to establish communication with the Theros, there was no response. Authorities were promptly notified, and broadcasts were made to nearby vessels in hopes of locating the missing sailboat.
Tragically, on July 10, the bodies of the Theros’s crew members—a 54-year-old woman and a 70-year-old man from British Columbia—were found in a 3.3-metre life-raft that washed up on Sable Island. The discovery indicated that the crew had abandoned the vessel, which was never recovered. One of the crew members was found wearing a flotation suit that had been damaged by fire, suggesting that a fire had broken out on board.
The report also mentioned that the Theros’s propulsion system had been modified with an electric system utilizing a car battery. Investigators explored the possibility of a collision with a commercial tanker located approximately 18.5 kilometres away from the Theros’s last known position on June 13 but have not established a definitive connection thus far.
While the report does not identify the crew members by name, a family member confirmed to CBC that they were Brett Clibbery and his wife, Sarah Packwood. The couple, who resided on B.C.’s Salt Spring Island, chronicled their sailing adventures on YouTube.
The mysterious disappearance of the Theros and the tragic loss of its crew members remain a somber reminder of the dangers inherent in maritime travel. The investigation may have reached its conclusion, but the questions surrounding the fate of the sailboat continue to linger.
