MOB Man Overboard! Volvo Team Sun Hung Kai Scallywag

[Steadman Uhlich]

Man overboard on Team Sun Hung Kai/Scallywag

Race Control for the Volvo Ocean Race has been informed by Team Sun Hung Kai/Scallywag of a man overboard incident, on Monday afternoon at approximately 13:42 UTC.

The team, along with the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC), has been conducting a search and rescue operation to recover the missing crew member, John Fisher (UK), who was wearing survival equipment when he went overboard.

The remaining crew are reported safe.

The incident took place approximately 1,400 miles west of Cape Horn.

The wind in the search area is a strong 35-knot westerly, with accompanying sea state. Water temperature is 9-degrees Celsius. There is daylight, but weather conditions are forecast to deteriorate in the coming hours.

Given the gale force conditions it is not an option to divert any of the other six Volvo Ocean Race competitors, who are at least 200 miles further east and downwind of SHK/Scallywag, to assist in the search operation.

The MRCC has identified a ship approximately 400 nautical miles away and it has been diverted to the scene.

Naturally we are deeply concerned, especially given the weather conditions, and Race Control in Alicante is supporting the Scallywag team and MRCC throughout the operation.

The Volvo Ocean Race is a 45,000 nautical mile race around the world. The teams are currently on Day 9 of Leg 7, a 7,600-mile race from Auckland, New Zealand to Itajaí, Brazil.

[Davidhoy]

I just saw this on another site. It will be a miracle if they find him alive, especially in those conditions. Here's praying for that very miracle...

[GTom]

Any chance that he has a VHF/AIS beacon/PLB? An AIS beacon could be quite useful since the mast of these boats are huge.

If the survival equiment means drysuit with thick undergarment, he has quite a bit of time reserve to be found.

[Davidhoy]

Originally Posted by GTom

Any chance that he has a VHF/AIS beacon/PLB? An AIS beacon could be quite useful since the mast of these boats are huge.

If the survival equiment means drysuit with thick undergarment, he has quite a bit of time reserve to be found.

I read somewhere that all crew have these Spinlock inflatable life jackets, which incorporate an AIS MOB beacon. The article stated that he was wearing "survival gear", so I really hope this was part of it.

https://www.spinlock.co.uk/en-us/cat...-race-deckvest

[thinwater]

Originally Posted by GTom

Any chance that he has a VHF/AIS beacon/PLB? An AIS beacon could be quite useful since the mast of these boats are huge.

If the survival equipment means drysuit with thick undergarment, he has quite a bit of time reserve to be found.

Without both the dry suit and PLB a ship 400 miles away is no use. 50F water, even with a PFD and good clothes, isn't survivable for that long. With a dry suit, perhaps several days. Let's hope he has all of these and was not injured.

[Steadman Uhlich]

Life on and in the Washing Machine

This recent video gives a good view of the extreme conditions of life aboard a Volvo Ocean Race (VOR65) boat at high speed. Notice the water over the deck, at high speed, a condition that make moving or standing on deck hazardous and a risk for MOB.

https://www.facebook.com/teamAkzoNob...5817305128033/

[SV DestinyAscen]

In the furious 50s - the sea state will make it even rougher than just surviving the cold temperatures... this is the 2nd MOB for Scallywag.

[LoudMusic]

I wonder if they were aware of him going overboard, or if they later realized "hey where's John?"

[Steadman Uhlich]

Originally Posted by SV DestinyAscen

In the furious 50s - the sea state will make it even rougher than just surviving the cold temperatures... this is the 2nd MOB for Scallywag.

Yep.

Tough conditions make a hard task even harder.

[grantmc]

Very sad to copy in an article just arrived from a Live Sail Die report 27 March 18 at 13:40 UTC:

Race Control for the Volvo Ocean Race has been informed by Team Sun Hung Kai/Scallywag of a man overboard incident, on Monday afternoon at approximately 13:42 UTC.

The team, along with the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC), has been conducting a search and rescue operation to recover the missing crew member, John Fisher (UK), who was wearing survival equipment when he went overboard.

The remaining crew are reported safe.

The incident took place approximately 1,400 miles west of Cape Horn.
The wind in the search area is a strong 35-knot westerly, with accompanying sea state. Water temperature is 9-degrees Celsius. There is daylight, but weather conditions are forecast to deteriorate in the coming hours.

Given the gale force conditions it is not an option to divert any of the other six Volvo Ocean Race competitors, who are at least 200 miles further east and downwind of SHK/Scallywag, to assist in the search operation.

The MRCC has identified a ship approximately 400 nautical miles away and it has been diverted to the scene.

Naturally we are deeply concerned, especially given the weather conditions, and Race Control in Alicante is supporting the Scallywag team and MRCC throughout the operation.

The Scallywag tracker has been disabled to the public.
We will have more information as it becomes available.

The Volvo Ocean Race is a 45,000 nautical mile race around the world. The teams are currently on Day 9 of Leg 7, a 7,600-mile race from Auckland, New Zealand to Itajaí, Brazil.

This is not the first man overboard situation for Scallwag in this edition of the race. Alex Gough (AUS), a greenhorn to the world of the Volvo Ocean Race, almost made a life changing mistake after being washed overboard in 15-20 knots during a sail change.

The photo is of the missing man John Fisher.

[iSaint]

Anyone know if he had a personal EPIRB?

[Steadman Uhlich]

Search now called off, after 7 hours searching.

Declared "Lost at Sea."

... the search has been called off and Mr Fisher declared "Lost at Sea" in the frigid southern Pacific Ocean with 35 knot winds, 5-10m seas and near-freezing air and sea temps."

[LoudMusic]

Originally Posted by Steadman Uhlich

Search now called off, after 7 hours searching.

Declared "Lost at Sea."

... the search has been called off and Mr Fisher declared "Lost at Sea" in the frigid southern Pacific Ocean with 35 knot winds, 5-10m seas and near-freezing air and sea temps."

Wow that is really tragic. The full report will likely be a painful read.

[Wotname]

It was suggested by some Aussie media that he was but the details aren't clear.

[CarstenWL]

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

"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."

Damn ....

Carsten