A troubling scene unfolded in the Mozambique Channel over the last 2 days, when a drifting yacht was found with two bodies on board. The vessel had earlier broadcast a distress call, but offered no further response despite repeated attempts by ships in the area to raise its crew.
The sailors are believed to be Australian cruiser Deirdre Sibly, 67, and French sailor Pascal Mahé, who had been voyaging together since mid-year. They met in Réunion in June and set off on a series of passages that took them along the western Indian Ocean before turning south for South Africa. Both were longstanding sailors with decades of experience between them.
A distress signal that led to silence
The first sign that something had gone wrong came when a cargo ship picked up a distress transmission from the pair’s yacht on Thursday. Ships in the vicinity altered course to investigate, but none received a radio reply. The yacht kept moving under full sail, with no one seen on deck.
When another vessel eventually reached the drifting boat, two bodies were discovered below deck. Formal identification has not yet been completed, but the families of both sailors have acknowledged that they expect the remains to be those of Sibly and Mahé.
ABC News reported that the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade contacted relatives early on Friday to advise them of the discovery.
Authorities have released no details about the condition of the yacht or the circumstances onboard. At this stage, investigators have not indicated whether they believe the deaths were accidental, medical, environmental, or linked to foul play.
A voyage well within their capability
The run from Mozambique to Durban is a lively stretch, known for its weather windows and the fast-moving Agulhas Current, but it is also a route used frequently by cruisers moving between the Indian Ocean and South Africa. Sibly and Mahé were regarded as confident, practical sailors who approached their travels carefully.
Sibly’s sister, Sue Good, described her as someone who had spent nearly 40 years on the water. She told Le Parisien that both sailors were highly capable and that “something serious must have happened” for the voyage to end this way.
Officials progress with caution
The yacht has now been secured, and coordination is underway between authorities in Mozambique, Madagascar, South Africa, Australia, and France. For now, officials have said only that the bodies were recovered and consular support is being provided. No timeline has been given for further updates.
The lack of detail has left the international cruising community waiting for clarity. This is the second major fatal incident in the western Indian Ocean in recent months, and many sailors have been quick to point out the challenges of search-and-response coverage in the Mozambique Channel.
The Mozambique Channel – Hopefully not living up to its reputation
Waiting for the authorities
What happened after the distress call — and why the yacht continued sailing unattended — remains at the centre of the investigation. More will become known once examinations are complete and officials are confident in releasing findings.
