Volvo Race crew missing overboard
Search and Rescue operations continue for Sun Hung Kai/Scallywag sailor – The Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) is continuing to lead efforts to recover Volvo Ocean Race sailor John Fisher (UK), who was reported overboard off Sun Hung Kai/Scallywag early on Monday afternoon UTC.
The Scallywag team, assisted by the MRCC, conducted an exhaustive search and rescue operation in an effort to recover Fisher, who was on watch and wearing appropriate survival gear when he went overboard. The remaining crew are reported safe.
The wind in the area at the time was a strong 35-knot westerly, with accompanying sea state. Water temperature was 9-degrees Celsius. There is still daylight, but weather conditions are forecast to deteriorate in the coming hours, and darkness will come at approximately 01:20 UTC.
The MRCC has already requested a ship, nearly 400 nautical miles away, divert to the scene. The MRCC continues in attempts to contact other ships that may be able to assist. The weather in the area is forecast to deteriorate significantly in the coming hours. Given the severity of the forecast and with nightfall an hour away, we acknowledge the chances of a successful recovery are diminishing.
SHK/Scallywag has thus made the difficult decision to turn downwind and head towards the South American coast, the nearest safe landfall, approximately 1,200 nautical miles away. We will have more information as it becomes available.
Crew member – John Fisher
Date of birth: 16 September 1970 In: Southampton, United Kingdom Nationality. British Legs sailed in this edition: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6. In-Port Races: Alicante, Lisbon, Cape Town, Hong Kong, Guangzhou, Auckland
Something about him that you don’t know: John is from England’s south coast but now lives in Adelaide, Australia. Who he is: A long-term member of the Ragamuffin and Scallywag super maxi crews, Fisher has plenty of big boat experience and has sailed with skipper David Witt for many years.
A Sydney-Hobart veteran, he made the step into the Volvo Ocean Race world for the first time in 2017-18.
This story is from BBC News.
