2-Time Medalist Dies In America's Cup Boating Accident

((HT: KGO-TV))

San Francisco Bay is buzzing with the practices of all the practicing involving the upcoming America's Cup defense by the St. Francis Yacht Club...

But the Artemis Racing team lost one of their own when their boat capsized in the bay- trapping 2-time five-ringed gold medalist Andrew Simpson for close to ten minutes before he could be rescued...

The Artemis team has raised eyebrows by not having a catamaran element called a foiled daggerboard. The daggerboard lifts yacht holes out of the water when the wind reaches high speeds. The breezes were around 25 miles per hour in the Bay Thursday. Srtemis CEO, and celebrated skipper Paul Cayard, has said that not having the daggerboard keeps the cat more stable in the water.

But this is the third time that a boat has capsized during practice for the Challenger's Series this summer...

Here's how KGO covered the saga early on...


Cayard released the following statement at an afternoon presser:

“Our prayers are with Andrew Simpson’s family, his wife and kids, and also the rest of my teammates. It’s a shocking experience to go through, and we have a lot to deal with in the next few days in terms of assuring everybody’s well being.

“The boat’s under control, but that’s not the first of our concerns. We’re focused on the people.

“That’s what we’re working with and on and we’ll give you more information when we’re able to.”