UPDATE: Artemis Racing Identifies Sailor Killed After Boat Capsized

Updated 4:23 p.m.

By Bay City News Service

A sailor has died after a boat associated with the America's Cup sailing race capsized in the Bay this afternoon, according to the U.S. Coast Guard and the San Francisco Fire Department.

He has been identified as Andrew Simpson, a 36-year-old British two-time Olympic gold medalist in sailing.

Artemis Racing sent out the following release this afternoon:

It is with immense sadness that Artemis Racing confirms the tragic death of crewmember Andrew ‘Bart’ Simpson today in San Francisco.

Andrew, a British double Olympic medallist, was one of the 11 man crew aboard Artemis Racing’s AC72 catamaran which capsized during training on San Francisco Bay ahead of this summer’s America’s Cup. All other crew are accounted for.

Simpson however was trapped underneath the boat and despite attempts to revive him, by doctors afloat and subsequently ashore, his life was lost.

“The entire Artemis Racing team is devastated by what happened,” said CEO Paul Cayard. “Our heartfelt condolences are with Andrew’s wife and family.”

The incident was reported just after 1 p.m. in the waters north of Treasure Island, Coast Guard Lt. j.g. Joshua Dykman said.

The vessel involved was the Artemis Racing AC-72, a 72-foot catamaran that belongs to the Swedish team participating in the America's Cup, according to the team's website.

Someone was underwater for about 10 minutes after boat capsized, and CPR was being performed on that person, fire officials said.

A fire department employee has confirmed that that person has died.

Dykman said there were high winds on the Bay this afternoon but that it is unclear why the boat capsized.

That person was later located and pulled from the water by crews on safety boats accompanying the catamaran, and was taken to the St. Francis Yacht Club, Dykman said.

Emergency crews continued CPR but the victim was pronounced dead at the yacht club, the fire department employee said.

One other person who was on board the boat suffered a laceration but was not seriously injured, she said.

She said the rest of the crew members were transported back to their point of departure in Alameda.

Dykman said the Coast Guard sent rescue crews from Station San Francisco and Station Golden Gate, and a helicopter was dispatched to the scene.

Team Oracle was nearby at the time of the capsize, he said.

Personnel from the San Francisco medical examiner's office arrived at the yacht club at about 2:15 p.m.

Copyright © 2013 by Bay City News, Inc. — Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited.