On July 10, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) made a tragic discovery: human remains found in a 10-foot inflatable lifeboat washed ashore on the remote and desolate Sable Island, 180 miles southeast of Halifax. Known for its shifting sands and haunting shipwrecks, Sable Island added another heartbreaking chapter to its history. Authorities believe the remains are those of James Brett Clibbery, 70, and his wife, Sarah Justine Packwood, 60, though DNA tests are still pending. The couple had been missing since June 18, just a week after they set sail from Halifax Harbor.
Clibbery and Packwood had embarked on their dream voyage on June 11, departing Nova Scotia aboard their solar-powered 42-foot Gib Sea sailboat. Their journey, lovingly named “The Green Odyssey,” was more than an adventure—it was a mission to show the world the possibilities of sustainable travel. Tragically, that mission ended in heartbreak.
Clibbery’s son, James, confirmed the devastating news on Facebook, describing it as an unbearable loss. “There’s nothing that can fill the hole left by their, so far unexplained, passing,” he wrote.
The couple, who joyfully documented their sailing adventures online, had shared their final post on June 11. It showed Clibbery at the helm, his silver hair swept by the wind, smiling into the camera and declaring, “We’re sailing.” Their love for the sea and their dream of a greener future now linger as a bittersweet memory.
An investigation into their deaths is ongoing, but their loss has left a profound sadness for all who followed their story.
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