John Thompson, the 54-year-old lawyer from Northern Ireland injured while sailing his boat Avocet in the ARC Rally, died late today.

Mr. Thompson was critically injured after being hit in the head by the boom during bad weather halfway through the transatlantic rally. He was later transferred to a cruise ship with two doctors aboard, then taken ashore once the ship reached Barbados where he was admitted to a hospital.

Mr. Thompson's son, Daniel, who had been sailing aboard Avocet, accompanied him through the transfer and to the hospital. Other family arrived later. Four crew remained aboard the boat. They are expected to arrive in St. Lucia on Friday.

The ARC has posted news here.

For what it's worth, I'm reminded of a few lines from a song by a fellow sailor:

"Jimmy, some of it's magic
And some of it's tragic
But I had a good life all the way."

Jimmy Buffett, He Went to Paris.