Wolfgang Mohr: ‘Inexperienced’ mariner drowned in Bass Strait after series of misjudgements

An “inexperienced” Tasmanian mariner who was taking his new yacht out for its first spin with his 18-year-old daughter made a series of miscalculations that led to his drowning, a report has found.

Bakers Beach. Picture: File

An “inexperienced” Tasmanian mariner who was taking his new yacht out for its first spin with his 18-year-old daughter made a series of miscalculations that led to his drowning, a report has found.

Launceston man Wolfgang Shane Mohr, 59, a career teacher working casually as a courier at the time of his death, drowned at Bakers Beach in the state’s North, late on the evening of October 3, 2022.

A newly published coronial report by Coroner Olivia McTaggart has detailed his final moments and the actions of his teen daughter, who also fell into the choppy Bass Strait water but managed to return to their yacht, Pearl.

Ms McTaggart said Mr Mohr had “no previous sailing or boating experience” when he purchased the 7.8m fibreglass yacht and navigated it from Launceston Seaport to Bakers Beach on what was to be a two-night expedition.

Mr Mohr anchored off Bakers Beach, “situated on the open coast facing Bass Strait, prone to swell and not recognised as a safe anchorage in any recognised anchorage guides,” Ms McTaggart said.

At about 11pm, believing the anchor to be dragging, Mr Mohr, not wearing a personal flotation device (PFD), went to the bow, where he lost his footing and fell into the water.

His daughter, hearing Mr Mohr’s calls for help, exited the cabin, threw her dad a PFD, and leant over to assist her father, who was struggling to put the device on, but a wave also knocked her into the water.

Launceston Seaport, from where Wolfgang Shane Mohr, 59, departed with his 18-year-old daughter on his final journey. Picture: Linda Smith

“She grabbed hold of the anchor rope at the suggestion of her father and made her way to the stern where she was able to climb aboard,” Ms McTaggart said.

“At this time she lost sight of her father, who had been unable to climb back aboard. She continued to look for him in the water and then went into the cabin and called [triple-0] on her phone.”

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Rescuers began a sea and air search by 2.40am the following day, with Mr Mohr discovered deceased at 2.56am.

Ms McTaggart found that Mr Mohr made a series of miscalculations that contributed to his death.

They included his total lack of seagoing experience, the “unsuitable and unsafe” anchorage he chose, and his lack of PFD.

Ms McTaggart identified other unsafe practices on the yacht that “may” have contributed to Mr Mohr falling into the water, including the security of the headsail’s stowage and the anchor line’s position.

Ms McTaggart made no recommendations and offered her condolences to friends and family of Mr Mohr’s.