Sailors Found Dead After Distress Call in Pirate-Prone Waters

Australian sailor Deirdre “Cookie” Sibly, 67, and her French friend Pascal had been enjoying an extended voyage across the Indian Ocean since June when their journey came to a sudden and tragic end last week in a region known for piracy.

The pair were discovered dead aboard their yacht after authorities responded to a distress signal sent on Thursday, November 27, off the coast of South Africa.

The circumstances surrounding their deaths remain unclear, though police are reportedly considering the possibility of a pirate attack. Sibly’s sister, Sue Good, noted that the Mozambique Channel “isn’t a very safe place in the world to be sailing” and that her sister “knew that.”

Sue told 9News: “They’ve been on the adventure of a lifetime and she was having the time of her life. We only know that they were found deceased on the yacht – we don’t know anything about how that happened.”

Family members fear the two may have been targeted by pirates, as the area where the distress call originated is known for criminal activity at sea.

Sibly, described by friends as the “ultimate adventurer,” had been sailing the Indian Ocean for months. She met Pascal on Reunion Island in June, and together they headed down the Mozambique Channel toward Durban, South Africa.

But the pair encountered serious trouble in the hazardous channel near Madagascar. The region is known for treacherous waters, where the Agulhas Current can produce dangerous rogue waves, and for violent weather patterns that have earned it the nickname “Cyclone Alley.” They issued an urgent call for help on Thursday.

Multiple police vessels responded, but both sailors were found dead when officers boarded the yacht. The cause of death has not yet been determined, and investigations are ongoing. The Department of Foreign Affairs has not confirmed any link to piracy.

Sibly was an experienced mariner who had spent decades traveling the world. She frequently sailed with her husband Colin before he passed away from cancer in 2019.

Tributes have poured in since news of her death. Close friend Sarah Mack said: “Cook never let the grass grow under her feet.

“She took all life had to offer and ran toward every opportunity with unbridled energy, joy and enthusiasm to explore, to learn and most importantly, to have fun. The most excellent bonus mum, passionate teacher, ocean advocate and seasoned sailor.

“I loved every second I spent with her. Thank you for all that you have been to me in this life.

“I’ll miss you both for always and see you in the waves, the sunsets and the creatures of the sea.”