A yacht race ended in tragedy yesterday (sunday), when Swansea Coastguard received a Mayday call reporting a man overboard.

The two men were taking part in the Weston Bay Sailing Club’s annual long-distance ‘Islands Race’ in their 27ft sloop, Gunsmoke, when one of the men was hit by the boom and knocked into the water around five miles south of Rhoose Point, near Barry, South Wales.

The remaining man made a distress call immediately. Several vessels nearby, two lifeboats and a rescue helicopter were on the scene within minutes.

The man was wearing a lifejacket and was spotted by the helicopter. A winch man was lowered and recovered the man unconscious to the helicopter. He was then taken straight to the University of Wales Hospital, Cardiff.

Arwyn Williams from Swansea Coastguard said:

“The sailor remaining on the yacht did the right thing in calling for help straight away, so we could get assistance to him fast.

“Sadly, in this incident, the injured sailor was declared dead at the hospital.”