South African Cruising Sailor - Boom Death in Oz
Cruising sailors in Queensland Australia are rallying to the assistance of a South African sailor whose husband was killed by the swinging boom of their vessel in rough weather - It was the trip of a lifetime that ended in tragedy. 
'Glynis Craig reflects on the past decade sailng on the high seas with her husband Colin Craig, who died on May 18. Picture by CRAIG CHAPMAN'
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Ten years ago Glynis Craig, 58, and her husband Colin, 62, who are from Zululand in South Africa, set sail on a round-the-world trip in their 15m sloop, Deja Vu.
The trip ended in heartbreak on Sunday when Mr Craig was fatally injured by the boat's swinging boom about 5.30am.
The couple had spent three months in Bundaberg and had left the area on Thursday.
They were heading towards New Caledonia when the accident happened, 80 nautical miles east of Fraser Island, and had run into strong winds and heavy seas.
'She knows how to sail the vessel by herself,' Acting Sergeant of the Hervey Bay water police Peter Upton said.
'But bringing it back in by herself would have meant three days without sleep she knew she would be exhausted.'
A tearful Mrs Craig yesterday said she was not concerned for her safety during her ordeal.
'I was never scared and I was never in any danger on the boat.'
After being flown to Hervey Bay by helicopter,Mrs Craig was taken to Gladstone to be rejoined with Deja Vu and her sons were expected to arrive from South Africa in the near future.
In spite of Mrs Craig's expertise, it was not an easy rescue. Rescuers braved sharks, gale force conditions and were running out of fuel during the rescue.
Around 5.30am, Glynis made the mayday call saying her husband had been struck on the head by the boom and was dead.
Ms Craig said she could not get the vessel back to port alone and needed help urgently after the crew from another yacht had been unable to board the vessel due to rough conditions.
The rescue helicopter was sent out from from Rockhampton winched down a paramedic to check on Mr Craig's condition.
The Energex Rescue Helicopter based in Bundaberg, then joined the rescue for the trip of more than 150km out to sea with a police officer and a Volunteer Marine Rescue (VMR) member on board.
The two rescuers had to be lowered into the water and swim the 10 metres to the stricken vessel because the Deja Vu's deck was not suitable for landing.
But initial efforts to winch the pair down were aborted when sharks were spotted in the water.
'The winch operator was winching the crewmen down and had to stop the winch because there were two hammerhead sharks there, so we had to wait until they disappeared,' Mr Snell said.
'We were right on the limit of our range and we had about 20 minutes out there to do the job and get back again,' Mr Snell said. 'She was being blown towards New Zealand.'
The Deja Vu carrying her husband's body was then sailed to the central Queensland port of Gladstone by the rescuers, but the trip had been hampered by three-metre waves and 30knot winds.
In the meantime, Queensland's yachting community is rallying around Mrs Craig.
Senior Constable Peter Upton says police had taken calls from yachties from Bundaberg to Townsville who all want to help the widow.
'We've received calls from people that have met them over their trips and some people who don't even know them, offering any support they can offer, from accommodation, assistance with the yacht and anything else she needs,' he said.
by Fraser Coast Chronicle/Sail-World Cruising 
Falcon, WA
