America's Cup Sailor Dies After Boat Capsizes

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. 

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.

Artemis Racing confirmed the identify of the sailor, Andrew “Bart” Simpson, who was a British Olympic Medalist.

He was underwater for about 10 minutes after boat capsized, and CPR was performed on him, fire officials said. 

A fire department employee and Artemis Racing confirmed that Simpson has died. Dykman said there were high winds on the Bay this afternoon but that it is unclear why the boat capsized. Twelve sailors were on board, and initially Simpson was unaccounted for, he said. He 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.

Oracle is based in Redwood City, California.

Bay City News, Inc. contributed to this report.  

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