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.