Timberwolfy 62 Posted March 26, 2018 Share Posted March 26, 2018 via Facebook... 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 Team Sun Hung Kai/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. We will have more information as it becomes available. (https://www.facebook.com/volvooceanrace/photos/a.397718232436.192058.137241232436/10156743115382437) It's been 6 hours... very close to the limits of a survival suit... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Fish 0 Posted March 26, 2018 Share Posted March 26, 2018 Terrible news. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
raz88 96 Posted March 26, 2018 Share Posted March 26, 2018 It's been 6 hours... very close to the limits of a survival suit... Plus in that time the drift possibilities are massive. Very sad news. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
smithy09 50 Posted March 26, 2018 Share Posted March 26, 2018 This is really terrible. I truly hope they find him and he survives. Gotta agree with KM that it is hard to believe they cannot get to him super fast. 6 hours????? Not looking good. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
philstar 61 Posted March 26, 2018 Share Posted March 26, 2018 Terrible, terrible news. There is always hope, but chances of getting him back must be slim. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Fish 0 Posted March 26, 2018 Share Posted March 26, 2018 The Clipper race had a MOB that was recovered in 7 min in the Southern Ocean (going to windward, not fanging it downwind). They use ais beacons in each LJ, auto activating on LJ activation. My new LJ has the facility for it, so it's now common and affordable. Immediate range and bearing to causality. (Range max 4 nm) probably a lot less in a big swell. Does anyone know if the Volvos have these? There was a comment I read somewhere that some boats ais wasn't working, a comment about reliability. Think KMs comment about multiple systems issues may turn out... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Priscilla II 387 Posted March 26, 2018 Share Posted March 26, 2018 From Dee yesterday on TTOP It is cold, bitterly cold on deck and down below. 3 degrees air temperature and 4 degrees sea temperature, makes for icy fingers and cheeks. The windy weather is due soon and we will have it blow hard for a good 12 hours before we return to the strong winds we have now, but it will take us to Cape Horn. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
John B 106 Posted March 26, 2018 Share Posted March 26, 2018 Lets hope. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
JK 28 Posted March 26, 2018 Share Posted March 26, 2018 Like any of these Fish? http://www.yachtingworld.com/features/tested-ais-mob-devices-help-your-crew-to-save-your-life-69914 or a personal EPIRB? All available around $500. Would think for an organization that cashes in on images of people being washed off their feet and across the deck they would ensure the best equipment was available. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Priscilla II 387 Posted March 26, 2018 Share Posted March 26, 2018 "This is grim. Quite affected by this imagine seeing your boat sailing away from you in those seas" Stuff of your worst nightmare. New a Chinese guy that got lost overboard north of Fiji off a kiwi built alloy Elliott and his partner came up on deck after a spell below to find only the bucket and shampoo. If memory serves me correctly she later sailed with Keith Levey on Sofia which got hit by the weather bomb that claimed the Quartermaster. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Priscilla II 387 Posted March 26, 2018 Share Posted March 26, 2018 Bugger "After seven hours the search has been called off - Officially lost at sea" Quote Link to post Share on other sites
raz88 96 Posted March 26, 2018 Share Posted March 26, 2018 Two mobs for scallywag this edition and none for anyone else. Questions will be asked. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Timberwolfy 62 Posted March 26, 2018 Author Share Posted March 26, 2018 I would be amazed if they didn't have a GPS MOB system. It will be interesting to see what comes of the inquiry. Can't imagine how sombre the mood must be on Scallywag right now. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
JK 28 Posted March 26, 2018 Share Posted March 26, 2018 Still in VoR's court though as the organiser. If there is a specified equipment list everyone has the gear, given they are in constant video surveillance a simple Sailing Instruction dictating a 1hr time penalty for every breach observed would help ensure they were worn. However, I well know that there are reasons people don't always follow what they know to be right in this area, we don't know the circumstances, and commiserations to those involved. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Fish 0 Posted March 26, 2018 Share Posted March 26, 2018 Bugger "After seven hours the search has been called off - Officially lost at sea" Where is the source for that? I can't see it on the volvo page or the FB page. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ed 143 Posted March 27, 2018 Share Posted March 27, 2018 Sailing illustrated are saying the search has been called off Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Timberwolfy 62 Posted March 27, 2018 Author Share Posted March 27, 2018 Volvo are saying it's still on, but becoming more and more limited: UPDATE 0100 UTC: Search and Rescue operation continues for Sun Hung Kai / Scallywag sailor ... 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. https://www.facebook.com/volvooceanrace/photos/a.397718232436.192058.137241232436/10156744561897437 12 hours have passed. This is now a search to recover a body. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Beccara 25 Posted March 27, 2018 Share Posted March 27, 2018 Would be interested to know what the lifevest had, Between DSC/AIS and EPIRB you have global and local options to find the guy, Even with AIS out personal epirbs or a backup dsc beacon should be available. I sincerely hope they weren't relying on a single system Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Island Time 1,214 Posted March 27, 2018 Share Posted March 27, 2018 Was he actually wearing his life jacket? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Fish 0 Posted March 27, 2018 Share Posted March 27, 2018 Was he actually wearing his life jacket? All of the footage I have seen on the 'raw' media coverage shows all crews with LJ's, I haven't seen anyone on deck without one. In saying that, they often have incidents where the off-watch crew are called up urgently. Skallywag did a crash gybe yesterday. The video was on the 'daily update'. The driver stated he was about to plant it into the back of a wave, thus sending green water over the boat. He saw a crewman move to the leeward side. So he stated, on video, yesterday, that he did he crash gybe deliberately so as to not wash the crewman overboard. You'd normally call that a near miss, discuss and change crew behaviour, i.e. about going to the leeward side without communicating with the driver. A crash gybe and recovery, or similar event would most likely warrant all crew on deck. I couldn't comment if they take the time to get dressed properly before going up (i.e. put on LJ's). There is zero info on what has happened here, and I'm not making any comment on that, just restating what was said on video yesterday by a driver on Skallywag (rather a crash gybe than a MOB). First video down on this link https://www.volvooceanrace.com/en/news/11346_Daily-Digest-Monday-26-March.html Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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