A British sailor died after being swept overboard in the Southern Ocean during a round-the-world yacht race, organizers of the event announced Sunday.

Simon Speirs, 60, from Bristol was helping change a headsail on British yacht CV30 in heavy seas when he was swept overboard.
He was clipped on with a safety tether, but was separated from the yacht. He was unconscious when gathered back on board 36 minutes later but efforts to revive him failed.
The death occurred on the 18th day of the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race while the fleet was racing from South Africa to Australia. The boat still has 1500 miles to go before reaching Fremantle in Western Australia.
The 12 yachts in the fleet carry a combined crew of 712 people and left Liverpool on August 20 for the approximately 11-month race.
Elsewhere, a British sailor attempting a solo voyage around the world was rescued Friday after his boat lost a mast in the Indian Ocean.
He was taken aboard by the US car-transport vessel Patriot and is due to be brought to Fremantle on Monday.