Search and Rescue operation continues for Sun Hung Kai/Scallywag sailor

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 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.

UPDATE 1855 UTC

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 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. 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.

Foto:  Volvo Ocean Race

The fleet for the 21st Match Race Germany on Lake Constance is complete. Twelve international top teams will compete over Pentecost  from 16 to 21 May in front of Langenargen at the Grand Prix of Germany. The field is led by defending champion Eric Monnin and his Albert Riele Swiss Team. With 12-time ice-sailing world champion and former America's Cup helmsman Karol Jablonski and his Jablonski Racing Team, one of the most furious dueling sailors is entering the four-nations region. Young savages like the only 23-year-old Dutchman Jelmer van Beek want to challenge the stars of the scene and set their course for Germany's most famous match race.

The twelve teams will represent nine countries this year. The five to six-member crews are at home in France, Poland, Austria, Switzerland, Slovenia, Russia, the Netherlands, Portugal and Germany. Helmsman Max Gurgel and his team from the Hamburger Alster start under German flag. Not so far from Langenargen is Eric Monnin´s club, the Segel Club Stäfa. The 42-year-old defending champion not only won the jubilee edition of Match Race Germany 2017, but was also second in the classic Bermuda Gold Cup. The helmsman, team player and boat designer from Lake Zurich says: "In addition to the usual good reasons, this year's title defense also serves as motivation. That is our goal, if not an easy one. As always, we hope for a good wind, but we are prepared for all conditions. "

"I LOVE THIS ATMOSPHERE!"

And commenting on the most difficult opponents to bet he added: "Always counting on Karol Jablonski and his Jablonski Racing Team". The 56-year-old German Pole starts for the Bavarian Yacht Club and just a few weeks ago raced to his record twelfth World Champion title. In sailing the DN ice yacht Jablonski has been king for almost two decades. And in the dueling sport match racing, he is not only one of the greats of his guild since his legendary America's Cup start for the Spanish team Desafío Espanõl and the fact that he reached the Cup semi-finals back in 2007. The match-world champion from Olsztyn is regarded as a vigorous attacker and inspires the fans regularly with his interpretation of the dueling sail art. Jablonski is looking forward to race in front of a large audience in Langenargen: "I love this special atmosphere at Match Race Germany!" Up to 30,000 spectators thrill every year on the shores and on the water togthert with the sailors - so many fans are hardly ato be found and matched at any matchrace Regatta worldwide.

TEAM DUTCH WAVE UP

One of the youngest starters also sees it that way. Jelmer van Beek from the Groningen Yacht Club said before his premiere on Lake Constance: "We start at Match Race Germany, because it is currently the biggest match race on monohulls in the world." The Dutch team Dutch Wave could not only win the 2017 national match race championship , but had also prevailed in the International German Match Race Championship (Qualifier for Match Race Germany) and quickly rose to the top 25 in the matchrace world ranking. The quintet has prepared well for the engagement in front of the dream scene in Langenargen: "We have studied many videos from the past years and expect light winds and sunshine." Jelmer van der Beek is aiming at a professional career in sailing, says: "to be able to compete at events like Match Race Germany is a really important step for our entire team. "As a goal, the boys have set themselves to reach the quarter-final round. "Everything is possible from then on," says van Beek, "because that's match racing!"

THE SKIPPERS AT MATCH RACE GERMANY 2018

• Eric Monnin (Switzerland)
• Maxime Mesnil (France)
• Patryk Zbroja (Poland)
• Max Trippolt (Austria)
• Dejan Presen (Slowenia)
• Vladimir Lipavski (Russia)
• Jelmer van Beek (Netherlands)
• Lukasz Wosinski (Poland)
• Szymon Jablkowski (Poland)
• Max Gurgel (Hamburg/Germany)
• Karol Jablonski (Poland/Germany)
• Alfonso Leijte (Portugal)

7 weeks to Go

At the organizers of Match Race Germany, preparations for one of the biggest sporting events in the Lake Constance region are already in full swing. The heartbeat chamber of the organizing team is Match Center Germany locted in the Gondelhafen in Langenargen. Together with the hosting Yacht Club Langenargen and its internationally experienced race director Rudi Magg, the entire team of around 100 volunteers, directed by event director Harald Thierer and sports director Eberhard Magg, are preparing for the popular long Whitsun Pentecost weekend. In front of the picturesque backdrop of the Montfort Castle, guests in the regatta village can enjoy a lot of infotainment, family entertainment, Swabian delicacies, evening top concerts with free admission and a seat in the first row on the lake shores.

MATCH RACE SUPER LEAGUE STARTED SEASON 2

In Brazil and on Lake Maggiore, the starting guns for the 2018 season of the international Match Race Super League have meanwhile fallen. The South American classic 6.Porto Alegre Match Cup won by the Brazilian Navy team with helmsman Geison Mendes in front of the crews around his compatriots Victor Demaison and Philipp Grochtmann. Switzerland's Grand Prix :Matchrace Switzerland, was won by the Geneva Match Race team, headed by helmsman Nelson Mettraux, ahead of the Austrian team Trippolt and Eric Monnin's Albert Riele Swiss Team (Both also competing in Langenargen). With 25 points each Nelson Mettraux and Geison Mendes have taken over the lead of the Match Race Super League at the season opener.

Match Race Super League 2018 Schedule

1. Porto Alegre Match Cup (BRA), 23. - 25.03.2018
2. Match Race Switzerland (SUI) 22. - 25.03.2018
3. Szczecin Polish Match Tour (POL), 28.04 - 01.05.2018
4. Match Race Germany (GER), 16. - 21.05.2018
5. NJK Open Spring Cup (FIN), 24. - 27.05.2018
6. Porto Montenegro Match Race (MNE), 01. - 03.06.2018
7. Portugese Open (POR), 15. - 17.06.2018
8. Internationaux de France (FRA), 26. - 29.07.2018
9. Argentina Match Race tba. (ARG), July 2018
10. Poland Match Race tba. (POL), August 2018
11. EUROSAF Match Racing Europeans (EST), 08. - 12.08.2018
12. New Caledonia Match Race tba. (NCL), August 2018
13. Oakcliff International (USA), 05. - 09.09.2018
14. Thompson Cup (USA), 11. - 15.09.2018
15. Marina Bay Cup (SIN), 13. - 16.09.2018
16. New Zealand Match Race tba, (NZL), December 2018
17. The Kingdom Match Race (BHR), 13. - 17.12.2018
18. Chile Match Race tba. (CHL), December 2018

Vir: Match Race Germany, Foto; FB Lumba Match Race