Mystery as British eco-explorer couple who were attempting to sail 2005 miles from Nova Scotia to Azores in a wind and solar-powered yacht are found dead in a washed up lifeboat a month after they were reported missing

A mates who embarked connected an eco-friendly voyage crossed nan Atlantic were recovered dormant successful a lifeboat aft seemingly being forced to wantonness their yacht.

Brett Clibbery, 70, and British female Sarah Justine Packwood, 54, were reported missing aft mounting disconnected from Nova Scotia successful Canada successful their 42ft sailing vessel Theros connected June 11 - and were recovered past week successful a washed-up liferaft.

The couple's remains were recovered connected Sable Island, nicknamed nan 'Graveyard of nan Atlantic', 180 miles disconnected nan seashore of Nova Scotia, nan liferaft having washed ashore. They had intended to sail to nan Azores 900 miles westbound of Portugal.

The Theros was a upwind and solar-powered alloy piloted by nan brace to show really recreation tin beryllium done without utilizing fossil fuels. The brace besides shared videos connected their YouTube channel showing them driving crossed Canada successful an electrical car.

Investigators are assessing whether nan vessel whitethorn person been struck by a larger vessel. No distress calls look to person been issued by nan couple.

In a connection shared connected their Facebook page, nan brace had written: 'We purpose to sail crossed nan ocean, each being well, adjacent winds and pursuing seas pinch us!' They labelled nan travel portion of their 'green odyssey'.

The mates were wed connected nan Theros successful 2016, according to Ms Packwood's individual blog, a twelvemonth aft gathering astatine a autobus extremity successful London. Mr Clibbery has been described arsenic an knowledgeable sailor and mechanic.

Ms Packwood, from Long Itchington, Warwickshire, was successful nan process of donating a kidney to her sister, Glory, the Vancouver Sun reported.

They later held a 'handfasting' Celtic ceremonial astatine Stonehenge successful April 2017, posting a video of nan brushwood connected their YouTube channel.

Their travel to nan Azores was meant to beryllium nan first afloat 'green' travel connected Theros aft removing its diesel motor successful favour of upwind and star power.

Posting a tribute connected societal media, Mr Clibbery's boy James said his begetter and his woman were 'amazing people'.

He said: 'The past fewer days person been very hard. My begetter James Brett Clibbery, and his wife, Sarah Justine Packwood person regrettably passed away.

'I americium truthful very sorry to nan group who were friends of them.

'They were astonishing people, and location isn't anything that will capable nan spread that has been near by their, truthful acold unexplained passing. 

'Living will not beryllium nan aforesaid without your wisdom, and your woman was quickly becoming a beacon of knowledge, and kindness.

'I miss your smiles. I miss your voices. You will beryllium everlastingly missed.'

Tim O'Connor and John Dolman, friends of nan couple, told nan Times Colonist the brace 'loved to recreation and meet caller people'.

Mr Dolman said: 'She called him "captain" and called herself nan "carpenter's apprentice".

'They were successful love. They passed distant doing nan point that they loved. Their escapade continues connected nan different side.'

Sharing a last station connected June 11, nan brace had written: 'Captain Brett and First Mate Sarah group sail connected nan 2nd limb of The Green Odyssey connected committee Theros - GibSea 42 ft sailboat. Powered by nan upwind and sun. Heading eastbound to nan Azores.'

The station was accompanied by a video of Mr Clibbery telling viewers nan vessel was astir 12 miles retired from nan shore, moving astatine an mean of 5.5 knots.

'If nan upwind stays nan aforesaid arsenic it is correct now we're fundamentally eastbound south-east, which will get america to nan Azores, truthful we'll see,' he said.

However, pinch nary updates forthcoming thereafter, friends and family began to stock concerned messages underneath their last posts - corresponding pinch rescue coordinators successful Halifax to hunt for nan Theros.

The mates were formally reported missing connected June 18, a week aft they had group sail. The travel to nan Azores had been scheduled to return 21 days. 

A mayday awesome was issued by Halifax coastguard crews to each ships adjacent connected July 3 - while rescue workers successful nan Azores were besides searching for nan vessel successful lawsuit it had arrived crossed nan Atlantic.

However, nan worst fears of nan couple's friends and family were confirmed earlier this period aft nan liferaft was discovered connected Sable Island - 175 miles from Halifax. 

Nova Scotia's Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) confirmed they had been made alert of nan remains connected July 10 wrong nan Sable Island National Park Reserve.

'On July 10, astatine astir 3:15 pm, RCMP Halifax Regional Detachment and nan Joint Rescue Coordination Centre were contacted, by Parks Canada, aft a 10-foot inflatable vessel was recovered washed ashore pinch 2 deceased group connected board,' a connection read.

'At this time, it's thought to beryllium a lifeboat for a larger alloy named Theros. The remains are believed to beryllium those of 2 sailors, a 70-year-old man and a 60-year-old woman, from British Columbia. 

'They were reported missing to nan Joint Rescue Coordination Centre connected June 18 aft leaving Halifax Harbour connected June 11, en way to nan Azores.'

A Nova Scotia RCMP spokesperson told MailOnline today: 'The incident remains nether investigation and location is nary further update astatine this time.'

How nan vessel came to beryllium abandoned remains a mystery. However, 1 mentation is that nan vessel was struck by a overmuch larger alloy soon aft leaving Halifax.

Hugo Fontaine, Canadian proscription information committee spokesman, told nan Telegraph: 'At this time, we cannot opportunity pinch complete certainty that nan sailing alloy was struck by a ship, arsenic we are still gathering accusation regarding nan overdue sailing alloy Theros.' 

Mr Clibbery had explained successful a YouTube video really nan vessel had been prepared to sail crossed nan Atlantic pinch nary fossil substance assistance whatsoever.

'We've installed six star panels to complaint nan batteries, we person connected committee a Nissan Leaf artillery battalion that we usage to thrust nan engine, truthful we person to get everything put together,' he said.

Ms Packwood, who described herself arsenic a 'adventurer, artist, bard-in-training, co-creator, intuitive healer, humanitarian, musician, nature-lover, singer-songwriter, traveller and writer', volunteered arsenic a humanitarian assistance worker successful Rwanda pursuing nan country's sadistic genocide successful 1994.

She met Mr Clibbery successful 2015 astatine a autobus extremity other nan Department for International Development agency successful London, and later discontinue her job, sold her London level and joined him connected nan Theros successful Salt Spring Island, Canada.