James Brett Clibbery, 70, and Sarah Justine Packwood, 54, from Salt Spring Island, British Columbia, Canada, were found dead in a 10-foot inflatable lifeboat on Sable Island, Nova Scotia, nearly a month after setting sail from Halifax Harbor on their eco-friendly yacht, Theros.
The couple documented their travels on their YouTube channel, Theros Adventures, aiming to demonstrate long-distance travel without burning fossil fuels. Electricity, solar panels, batteries, and a repurposed car engine powered their 42-foot yacht. They left Halifax on June 11, bound for the Azores, a group of Portuguese islands approximately 2,000 miles away.
The journey, dubbed “The Green Odyssey,” was planned to take 21 days. However, on June 18, 2024, Clibbery and Packwood were reported missing. The last known location of Clibbery’s GPS device was about 40 miles southwest of Sable Island on June 13. On July 10, their bodies were discovered washed ashore on Sable Island, often referred to as the “graveyard of the Atlantic” due to its history of shipwrecks.
Clibbery’s son, James, expressed his grief in a Facebook post that highlighted the profound impact of their deaths on their loved ones: “They were incredible individuals, and nothing can fill the void their, as yet unexplained, passing has left. Life won’t be the same without your wisdom, and your wife swiftly became a source of knowledge and kindness. I miss your smiles. I miss your voices. You will always be missed.”
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) are investigating the deaths, but initial findings do not suggest foul play. The couple’s lifeboat is believed to have come from their larger vessel, Theros. Investigators are considering several possibilities, including the theory that the yacht may have been struck by a passing cargo ship that did not see them. No wreckage of the Theros has been found, and the investigation is ongoing.
In a video posted on April 12, Clibbery described the couple’s mission: “We’re doing everything we can to show that you can travel without burning fossil fuels.” Packwood added, “It’s probably the biggest adventure of our lives so far.”
The couple’s story was featured in a 2020 article in The Guardian, detailing their meeting in London in 2015. Clibbery, a retired engineer, was preparing to donate a kidney to his sister when he met Packwood, a humanitarian worker from the UK. They married on the Theros in 2016 and moved to Canada in 2018, continuing their sailing adventures.
The RCMP stated that DNA tests are being conducted to confirm the identities of the remains. The Nova Scotia Medical Examiner Service identified one set of remains as Clibbery’s, and investigators are confident the other remains belong to Packwood.
Sable Island, where their bodies were found, is a crescent-shaped sandbar known for its wild horses and treacherous waters. According to the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic, it is located about 190 miles southeast of Halifax and has been the site of over 350 shipwrecks since 1583.
One of the earliest recorded shipwrecks was the HMS Delight, which met its end in 1583. According to historical records, the ship was part of Sir Humphrey Gilbert’s expedition to North America when it ran aground on Sable Island. The survivors faced harsh conditions, and many perished before rescue.
In 1737, the ship Catherine was another victim of Sable Island’s treacherous waters. The vessel was en route from Boston to London when it encountered a violent storm. Only a handful of the crew survived, clinging to the wreckage until they were rescued by passing ships.
The 19th century saw numerous shipwrecks on Sable Island. The Francis, a British brig, was lost in 1800 with no survivors. In 1854, the ship Arcadia was wrecked, leading to the deaths of 68 passengers and crew. These incidents underscored the need for lifesaving measures on the island.
To address the high number of shipwrecks, the Humane Establishment was founded in 1801. This organization provided lifesaving services, including lighthouses, houses of refuge, and lifesaving stations. The crew of the Humane Establishment worked tirelessly to rescue shipwreck victims and maintain the island’s infrastructure. The organization operated for 150 years, ending in 1958 after 11 years without a shipwreck.
One of the most notable wrecks of the 19th century was the British barque Crofton Hall. In 1898, the ship ran aground on the northeast bar of Sable Island during a severe storm. The crew struggled to survive in the harsh conditions, and rescue efforts were hampered by the stormy weather. Artifacts from the Crofton Hall are now part of the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic’s collection.
The same year saw the wreck of La Bourgogne, a French liner that collided with another vessel in dense fog. The impact caused the ship to sink rapidly, resulting in the loss of over 500 lives. This tragedy remains one of the deadliest shipwrecks in Sable Island’s history.
The early 20th century continued to see shipwrecks on Sable Island. In 1927, the Columbia, a passenger steamer, ran aground during a storm. The crew and passengers were rescued by the Humane Establishment’s lifesaving crew, highlighting the importance of their work.
The wreck of the Manhasset in 1947 is another significant event in Sable Island’s maritime history. The ship, a freighter, was caught in a storm and driven onto the island’s sandbars. The crew faced a harrowing ordeal as they awaited rescue in the harsh conditions.
Sable Island’s legacy of shipwrecks also includes the Merrimac, a fishing vessel that ran aground in 1999. Advances in navigation technology have reduced the frequency of shipwrecks, but the island’s reputation as a treacherous maritime zone remains.
In addition to its shipwreck history, Sable Island is known for its population of feral horses. These horses, descendants of animals brought to the island in the 18th century, have become a symbol of the island’s rugged beauty and resilience. The island is now a protected National Park Reserve managed by Parks Canada, with efforts in place to preserve its unique ecosystem and historical significance.