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Death in Gotland Runt Race

SANDHAMN, Sweden -- An experienced sailor drowned after being knocked from his yacht in the Gotland Runt Race, Sweden on Wednesday.

65-year-old Finnish ocean racing yachtsman Mauri Luukkala was sailing his 10m (31ft) yacht Argo in the 335-mile race when a wave hit the yacht, knocking him overboard.

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His son Vesa was onboard when the accident occurred. All rescue attempts failed.

Since 1937, when the Gotland Race was first held, organisers said there have been no serious accidents.

The death is the latest in a series of overboard incidents this year that have led to questions about the use of personal safety equipment, particularly in offshore races.

In May, American Jamie Boeckel was lost overboard in the annual Block Island Race on Long Island Sound, U.S.

Boeckel was knocked unconscious and thrown from the bow when the spinnaker pole broke during a routine sail change. A crewmember jumped in and managed to hold Boeckel for a few minutes before he slipped away from his grasp and was drowned.

During the Newport to Bermuda Race in June, three crew were knocked overboard in the rough waters of the Gulf Stream, but all were rescued.

Most recently American Gary McPike, 61, died after accidentally falling from his yacht Joyride during a race on Sydney Harbour.

Two crewmembers from another yacht dived into and pulled McPike out of the water but were unable to revive him. (read full story)

In each case the men were not wearing inflatable buoyancy aides and were not clipped on to the yacht with a safety harness. Even though these safety items have to be carried onboard the yacht under the race rules, there are usually no prescriptions that they must be worn.

Britain's Royal Ocean Racing Club, a leader in offshore race management, require lifejackets and safety harnesses to be used in conditions where foul weather gear is worn.

However, many crews are reluctant to wear the harnesses and lifejackets.

To counter this, the RORC plan to change their rules to state that harnesses and lifejackets must be worn in bad weather, including when the mainsail is reefed, at night, when alone on deck, in poor visibility and when there is more than 25 knots of true wind speed.

In the Gotland Runt Race, 60 foot trimaran Nokia stormed across the finishing line of the 335 mile Gotland Runt on Monday afternoon knocking more than three hours off the course record. (read full story)