Volvo Ocean Race: SHK Scallywag arrives in Itajai

John Fisher Memorial, SHK Scallywag base – Itajai Stopover. 20 April, © Ainhoa Sanchez / Volvo OcThe final of seven entries, SHK Scallywag has arrived in Itajai, Brazil, ahead of the start of Leg 8 of the Volvo Ocean Race on Sunday (local time). The Scallywag Delivery Team were greeted with many warm welcomes and massive amount of support from all the teams in the Volvo Ocean Race, says the team on social media

The moment the boat was inbound, the Scallywag sailors and shore crew set out and climbed on board to ensure that everything went smoothly once the boat docked.

“The clock starts now, and not a single second can be wasted!”

The team said they expected to post further updates on their situation.

SHK Scallywag retired from Leg 7 after crew member John Fisher was tragically lost overboard 600nm SE of Point Nemo in the Southern Ocean. She headed for a port of the west coast of Chile, and a delivery crew took over to motor/sail the Volvo 65 to Itajai via the Strait of Magellan, passing inside Cape Horn.

The official Volvo Ocean race website says Neil Cox, the Head of the Boatyard, has his full team ready to work around the clock to get Scallywag on the start line, but he cautions that certain processes can’t be shortcut.

“We have the entire Boatyard workforce dedicated to working on that boat,” Cox said. “We’ve also kept suppliers on site to help us with certain tasks. Following the Southern Ocean legs, we’re giving the rigs a thorough check with the help of Southern Spars.

John Fisher is eulogised – John Fisher Memorial – Itajai Stopover. 20 April, © Ainhoa Sanchez / Volvo Ocean Race

“Any carbon work that has to be done takes a certain amount of time to ‘cook’ and that process can’t be shortened.

“Our goal within the boatyard is to get through the mandated service work that each boat goes through in this stopover and to complete any other repairs within the time it takes to get the rig ready. If everything goes well, they’ll be on the start line on Sunday, but we are at the point now where every hour counts.”

For the Scallywag crew, the race against the clock has seen an outpouring of goodwill from their competitors who are lending a hand, where necessary, to help them get to the start.

“Some of the other teams have offered to help us pull our mast out,” said sailor Trystan Seal. “So the support we’re getting is petty impressive. It’s a tight timeline for us to get to the start, but everyone is on our side and trying to help us as much as possible.”

“It’s amazing how much help we’ve been offered by the other teams,” said Annemeike Bes. “It’s a great feeling that so many people are supporting us. We’re in a race and we’re competitive and we all want to win, but at times like this it’s more like a family taking care of each other, and that’s awesome.”

SHK Scallywag and the other late finisher, Vestas 11th Hour Racing are expected to miss the In Port race in Itajai. Vestas 11th Hour racing arrived in Itajai on Tuesday after being dismasted 100nm SE of the Falkland Islands. She had two attempts at making the 1400nm passage to Itajai under jury rig.

SHK / Scallywag arrives in Itajai. 19 April, 2018 – Itajai Stopover. – photo © Ainhoa Sanchez / Volvo Ocean Race

Memorial Board – Itajai Stopover. 20 April, – photo © Ainhoa Sanchez / Volvo Ocean Race

Memorial Board – Itajai Stopover. 20 April, 2018 – photo © Ainhoa Sanchez / Volvo Ocean Race

SHK Scallywag’s stopover refit starts – Itajai Stopover. SHK / Scallywag arrival in Itajai. 19 April, – photo © Ainhoa Sanchez / Volvo Ocean Race

Story and images from sail-world.com