TRAGEDY ON THE HIGH SEAS: Body of Australian Sailor ‘Cookie’ Sibly Found in Pirate-Infested Waters After Desperate Distress Call
- Deirdre ‘Cookie’ Sibly, 67, and her French companion Pascal Mahe went missing in the notorious Mozambique Channel after sending a distress signal on November 27
- Two bodies were recovered by French coast guards, with DFAT confirming one of them as Sibly, a seasoned sailor with decades of experience
- The circumstances surrounding Sibly’s death are still under investigation, with DFAT unable to comment due to ongoing privacy obligations
- Sibly’s family and friends have paid tribute to the vibrant sailor, who was known for her bravery and sailing expertise
In a devastating blow to the sailing community, the body of Australian sailor Deirdre ‘Cookie’ Sibly has been found in the pirate-infested waters of the Mozambique Channel. Sibly, 67, and her French companion Pascal Mahe went missing on November 27 after sending a desperate distress signal.
According to Sibly’s sister, Sue Good, “It isn’t a very safe place in the world to be sailing. She knew that.” But despite the dangers, Sibly was an experienced sailor with decades of experience on the water. She and her late husband Colin Sibly were well-known in the sailing and lifesaving community, with Colin being a beloved life member of the Port Elliot Surf Life Saving Club before his tragic passing in 2019.
Sibly and Mahe were sailing on a friend’s yacht towards Durban to fly home after a voyage Sibly described as the “trip of a lifetime”. But their journey was cut short when they went missing in the notorious Mozambique Channel, known for its pirate activity. French coast guards launched a recovery mission and discovered two bodies on board the yacht.
DFAT has confirmed that one of the bodies is Sibly, with her death still under investigation. “The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is providing consular assistance to the family of an Australian who died in the Mozambique Channel,” a DFAT spokesperson said. “We send our deepest condolences to the family at this difficult time.”
Friend and fellow sailor Eric Cotz paid tribute to Sibly on Facebook, saying “Cookie, as we all knew and loved her, along with her late husband Colin; visited our waters annually in their well known yacht ‘Calista’ (the fair one) for well over 30 years.” Cotz described Sibly as “a popular and much loved leading light” who was “a valued and energetic worker” in the sailing community.