The boat of the Vestas team, engaged in the Volvo Ocean Race, collided Friday with a fishing boat with ten people on board. One of them died.
Tragic accident at the Volvo Ocean Race , sailing race crewed round the world in stages. Saturday, January 20, 2018, the organizers have announced a collision between Vestas 11th Hour Racing , one of the teams involved in the race and a fishing boat in the area of Hong Kong . A crew member of the fishing boat died.
We are deeply saddened to inform that the collision between @Vestas11thHour & a fishing vessel has resulted in a fatality of a crew member of the fishing vessel. More ➡️ https://t.co/QmGiKTKOot pic.twitter.com/9WXXFSoY66
— Volvo Ocean Race (@volvooceanrace) 20 January 2018
Ouch… #VolvoOceanRace pic.twitter.com/fVt9ugNyWr
— Gregoire Depinay (@GregDepinay) 20 January 2018
Ten crew members in the fishing boat
In a statement on its website, the Volvo Ocean Race organizers explain that “the accident occurred at about 30 nautical miles from the finish line of stage 4, outside the waters of Hong Kong . The race direction, the seat of the Volvo Ocean Race, was informed of the crash by the team, moments after the event, at 5:23 p.m. UTC this Friday, January 19, 2018 (1:23 local time Saturday morning). ”
“The team Vestas 11th Hour Racing, from which no one was hurt, launched a distress call ‘Mayday’ on behalf of the other boat, alerting the Coordination Center and Maritime Rescue Hong Kong (HKMRCC ) and initiated a search and rescue mission.”
A commercial ship that was in the area was able to rescue nine crew members of the fishing boat. A tenth person was evacuated to hospital by helicopter. The victim died at the hospital.
An investigation
The Volvo Ocean Race is “extremely saddened” by the accident and present his respects to the relatives of the victim.
“On behalf of the Volvo Ocean Race and Vestas 11th Hour Racing, we extend our deepest condolences to the relatives of the victim. “
Organizers sure that “The Volvo Ocean Race and Vestas 11th Hour Racing now put all their efforts to bring immediate support to all those affected by this accident.”
The team Vestas 11th Hour Racing abandoned the race.
???? UPDATE: Vestas 11th Hour Racing has been involved in a collision with a non-race vessel before the finish of Leg 4. Full story: https://t.co/VDDRdgvWcw pic.twitter.com/xV4Czn7Z4H
— Vestas 11th Hour (@Vestas11thHour) 20 January 2018
An investigation to determine in detail the circumstances of the tragedy.
