CLIPPER VENTURES’ STATEMENT
We were and continue to be very saddened at the death of Simon Speirs, and our thoughts are with his family.
The safety of our crew is our highest priority and has been since the race was established in 1996. Every crew member undergoes four weeks of intensive, rigorous training, specifically designed for ocean racing, of which safety is at the core. This includes sea survival training which is carried out to industry (RYA) standards. All safety equipment on board is industry-leading with every crew member equipped with a personal AIS beacon in lifejackets.
Each yacht is fully crewed and crew members are ‘off watch’ for between 10 to 14 hours in each 24-hour period. The watch system is designed to ensure each crew member has enough rest.
We have followed previous safety recommendations from the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB), and not ‘ignored’ them as previously stated in the MAIB report. We have had our safety system independently reviewed, as the MCA has not been able to allocate the resources to do so.
During 11 editions, 5,000 people have taken part in the Clipper Race, organised by parent company Clipper Ventures. Every measure possible is taken to ensure the safety of our crew.
The [report] reference to a nearby vessel that could have taken Simon’s body is factually incorrect. This was a mistake by the MCA which it subsequently admitted. Clipper Ventures has been asked to take account of any safety management guidance and direction provided by the MCA. The Maritime Coastguard Agency has been unable to find the resources so far to provide Clipper Ventures with guidance and direction and we have been waiting for them to contact us to look into maritime safety issues for 18 months.
In view of this delay, we’ve had our systems assessed by two outside auditors.