MOB Man Overboard! Volvo Team Sun Hung Kai Scallywag

[CarstenWL]

Anyone know if he had a personal EPIRB?

Even if he had ... 35kn wind and >5m waves ...
You probably need 10 to 20 min to switch from downwind to close reach / close haul. By than you are 5nm away. Depending on antenna height you will have problems to receive the AIS. Even if you have his MOB position stored, find him in >5m waves ...

Carsten

[El Pinguino]

And the yacht has resumed passage but MRCC ( Chile) has requested an east bound ship 400 miles to the NE to divert to search for the missing man.

Not much hope I fear....

https://www.volvooceanrace.com/en/ne...ag-sailor.html

Ooops...link already posted above

[El Pinguino]

Posted with no further comment

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7Efkev5lBU

[El Pinguino]

Not sure if this is the same boat... but this is not a 'chinese gybe'....

One does start to wonder...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Er2CEJAxkNA

[CarstenWL]

... different teams in the two videos ...

... but the video with the MOB is indeed also from Team "Sun Hung Kai / Scallywag" (incident from January 14th)

... while the 'chinese gybe' is from team "Turn the Tide on Plastic"

Carsten

[Steadman Uhlich]

Some more facts:

This was the second MOB incident for this boat in this race.

An earlier MOB incident occurred on January 14, 2018.
Very different location and conditions.
In that case the MOB was lucky to be seen, even in mild conditions. He was not wearing a PFD and was wearing a dark (black) shirt.

This video shows the MOB recovery in that case.

https://youtu.be/a7Efkev5lBU

https://youtu.be/a7Efkev5lBU

[Steadman Uhlich]

March 26, 2018
18:55 UTC
UPDATE 0830 UTC

An update on Team Sun Hung Kai/Scallywag crew member John Fisher, from Richard Brisius, the President of the Volvo Ocean Race:

This morning I am extremely sad to inform you that one of our sailors, John Fisher, from Team Sun Hung Kai / Scallywag, is now presumed to have been lost at sea.

This is heart-breaking for all of us. As sailors and race organisers losing a crew member at sea is a tragedy we don't ever want to contemplate. We are devastated and our thoughts are with John’s family, friends and teammates.

Yesterday, just after 1300 UTC, Race Control for the Volvo Ocean Race were informed of a man overboard situation by Team Sun Hung Kai/Scallywag.

We immediately coordinated with the team as well as the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre, who have located a ship and diverted it towards the scene. But at current speeds it remains over a day away.

With the rest of the Volvo Ocean Race fleet approximately 200 miles downwind, sending them back upwind to assist, against gale to storm force winds, was not a viable option.

The Sun Hung Kai/Scallywag team conducted an exhaustive search for several hours in extremely challenging weather conditions, but they were unable to recover their teammate.

Given the cold water temperature and the extreme sea state, along with the time that has now passed since he went overboard, we must now presume that John has been lost at sea.

[GTom]

I know it's not the best time to raise critics but I feel calling off the search was way to early in case he was in a drysuit. Without drysuit 7 hours is of course too long.

[LoudMusic]

Originally Posted by GTom

I know it's not the best time to raise critics but I feel calling off the search was way to early in case he was in a drysuit. Without drysuit 7 hours is of course too long.

Hypothermia Prevention: Survial in Cold Water | Minnesota Sea Grant

[Sailsarefull]

It looks from the video that none of these guys have on a PFD, lifeline, MOB or anything. That is surprising to me. But, I have never raced at that level so maybe it is common. Just seems rather foolish to not have on the proper safety equipment. Your chances are near zero if you go over without that stuff.

[ZULU40]

maybe racing of this nature has outlived its usefulness

.

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by ZULU40

maybe racing of this nature has outlived its usefulness

.

Not if your the one collecting the Wedge from the amueter crews.. and the sponsers.

[Lihuedooley77]

2 MOB's from the same vessel in a short period of time...

one not wearing a PFD and in dark clothing

the other in horrendous conditions, no safety harness, lost at sea.

By all means racing is primary .

Apparently nothing was learned after the first MOB incident.

No further comment.

[GTom]

Originally Posted by LoudMusic

Hypothermia Prevention: Survial in Cold Water | Minnesota Sea Grant

As a cold water diver I can absolutely confirm these figures, unfortunately "tested" in many accidents . A dry suit extends this time to days even in 4-5°C water, depending on undergarment.

I by no means want to judge the decisions of the (now shorthanded) crew and skipper without having all the details (even then, I am not qualified). First and most important detail would be if he was in "normal" foulies, which is useless in water, or was wearing a dry.

[uncle stinkybob]

So the present cost of life for this "race" is, mid course leg 7, 1 fishermen and 1 crew member. 4 1/2 legs to go. bad odds really.