Australian woman, 67, suspected to have died while sailing in Mozambique channel

Yacht that Deirdre Sibly was sailing made distress call Wednesday evening and was later found with two deceased people on board

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Australian authorities are providing assistance to the family of a South Australian woman who is suspected to have died while sailing off the east coast of Africa.

Deirdre “Cookie” Sibly, 67, from Port Lincoln, had departed from Reunion Island, a French territory in the Indian Ocean, in June. She was travelling with her friend, Pascal Mahe, a French national, on his yacht and the pair had intended to sail to South Africa.