Image copyright Michael Bradley/AFP/Getty Images Image caption John Fisher was part of the 13-strong Sun Hung Kai/ Scallywag crew

A British yachtsman is missing at sea after falling overboard off the tip of South America during a round-the-world race.

John Fisher, 47, from Southampton, was washed overboard 1,400 miles west of Cape Horn at 13:42 GMT on Monday, said organisers of the Volvo Ocean Race.

The Sun Hung Kai/ Scallywag crew have been searching for Mr Fisher, who was wearing survival equipment.

A ship approximately 400 nautical miles away has been diverted to the scene.

The rescue operation is being co-ordinated by the race control centre in Alicante.

Race organisers said: "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 and the teams were on day nine of the seventh leg from Auckland, New Zealand to Iajai, Brazil when Mr Fisher went missing.

The 2017-18 race is the 13th - and longest - edition of the event, that was first held in 1973 when it was known as the Whitbread Round The World Race.

Mr Fisher, who now lives in Adelaide but competes for Great Britain, is taking part in the race for the first time.</s>A British yachtsman who fell overboard during an around-the-world race is presumed "lost at sea," according to race organizers.

John Fisher, 47, was competing in the Volvo Ocean Race with the team Sun Hung Kai/Scallywag when he fell overboard 1,400 miles west of Cape Horn, Chile, on Monday, according to a statement from Volvo Ocean Race president Richard Brisius.

"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," Brisius said in the statement.

The team aboard the 65-foot yacht conducted an "exhaustive" search for several hours, but were unable to find Fisher, according to the statement.

Fisher was competing in the Volvo Ocean Race, a 45,000 nautical mile race around the world, for the first time. The race started in Alicante, Spain, on Oct. 22, and was set to end in Hague, Netherlands, in June.

A ship was diverted to assist Team Sun Hung Kai / Scallywag with the rescue operation, but was more than a day away from the yacht at the time of Brisius' statement.

"This is heart-breaking for all of us," Brisius said. "As sailors and race organizers 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."</s>A British crewman taking part in the Volvo Ocean Race has fallen overboard in the inhospitable Southern Ocean 1,400 nautical miles west of Cape Horn.

Officials said John Fisher was wearing survival equipment when he went overboard from the Team Sun Hung Kai/Scallywag yacht.

The team is searching for Mr Fisher in a strong 35-knot westerly wind, with accompanying sea state.

Water temperature is 9C, and conditions are forecast to deteriorate.

Officials said that given the gale force conditions, it is not an option to divert any of the other six yachts, which are at least 200 miles east and downwind of Team Sun Hung Kai/Scallywag, to assist in the search.

A ship 400 nautical miles away has diverted to the scene. – PA</s>Officials said John Fisher was wearing survival equipment when he went overboard from the Team Sun Hung Kai/Scallywag yacht.

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. More ➡️ https://t.co/JyoDOqZThl pic.twitter.com/UPblJakpa0

Officials said that given the gale force conditions, it is not an option to divert any of the other six yachts, which are at least 200 miles east and downwind of Team Sun Hung Kai/Scallywag, to assist in the search.

A ship 400 nautical miles away has diverted to the scene.</s>A British crewman taking part in the Volvo Ocean Race has fallen overboard in the inhospitable Southern Ocean 1,400 nautical miles west of Cape Horn.

Officials said John Fisher was wearing survival equipment when he went overboard from the Team Sun Hung Kai/Scallywag yacht.

The team is searching for Mr Fisher in a strong 35-knot westerly wind, with accompanying sea state.

Water temperature is 9C, and conditions are forecast to deteriorate.

We are deeply saddened to hear the news and our thoughts and prayers are with John's family and the crew. John's next of kin have been notified of the situation and further updates will be shared as and when they become available. https://t.co/XMWYNzgs6x — Sun Hung Kai Scallywag (@scallywaghk) March 26, 2018

Officials said that given the gale force conditions, it is not an option to divert any of the other six yachts, which are at least 200 miles east and downwind of Team Sun Hung Kai/Scallywag, to assist in the search.

A ship 400 nautical miles away has diverted to the scene.</s>Volvo Ocean Race officials say a crewman on Team Sun Hung Kai/Scallywag has fallen overboard in the inhospitable Southern Ocean some 1,400 nautical miles west of Cape Horn at the southern tip of South America.

Officials say the crewman, John Fisher of Britain, was wearing survival equipment when he went overboard Monday.

The team is searching for Fisher in a strong 35-knot westerly, with accompanying sea state. Water temperature is 9-degrees Celsius. Conditions are forecast to deteriorate.

Officials say that given the gale force conditions, it is not an option to divert any of the other six yachts, which are at least 200 miles east and downwind of Team Sun Hung Kai/Scallywag, to assist in the search.

A ship some 400 nautical miles away has diverted to the scene.</s>Position of Scallywag and Volvo Race Fleet - Click image for a larger image

The team, along with the Marine Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC), has been conducting a search and rescue operation to recover the missing crew member, John Fisher (UK).

He 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.

We will have more information as it becomes available.</s>A British sailor is missing after being swept overboard at 11pm on Monday during the Volvo Ocean Race.

John Fisher was wearing survival gear when he fell off the Team Sun Hung Kai/Scallywag vessel west of Cape Horn, near South America, as the yacht raced from New Zealand to Brazil.

The team, with the help of the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre, are conducting a search and rescue operation to recover the 47-year-old, according to Volvo Ocean Race.

The wind in the area has been recorded at 35 knots – or 64km/h – and the water is 9C.

'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,' it said in a press release.

'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.'

Mr Fisher lives in Adelaide and is a long-time veteran of the Sydney to Hobart yacht race, according to the Volvo Ocean Race's website.

The Volvo Ocean Race is 7,600-mile race from Auckland, New Zealand to Itajaí, Brazil.</s>A British-born sailor in the Volvo Ocean Race is presumed lost at sea after going overboard in the Southern Ocean, around 1,400 miles west of Cape Horn.

A British-born sailor in the Volvo Ocean Race is presumed lost at sea after going overboard in the Southern Ocean, around 1,400 miles west of Cape Horn.

British-born sailor ‘lost at sea’ after going overboard in round-the-world race

Officials of the round-the-world race say the team searched for several hours in high wind and big waves before deteriorating conditions forced it to resume course toward South America. The rest of the fleet was more than 200 miles away, and the nearest ship that could be located was more than a day away.

Statement by Lee Seng Huang and Sun Hung Kai & Co: owner and sponsor of Team Sun Hung Kai/Scallywag: “We are... Posted by Sun Hung Kai & Co on Monday, March 26, 2018 Given the cold water and fierce conditions, “We must now presume that John has been lost at sea,” race president Richard Brisius said in a statement on Tuesday that came nearly 24 hours after Mr Fisher went overboard. “This is heartbreaking for all of us,” Mr Brisius said. “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.”

Race officials said the 47-year-old sailor was on watch and wearing appropriate survival gear when he went overboard. No further details were provided. Mr Fisher was an experienced big boat sailor who was sailing in his first Volvo Ocean Race, the team’s website said. He was a veteran of the Sydney-Hobart, one of the toughest offshore races.

An update on Team Sun Hung Kai/Scallywag crew member John Fisher, from Richard Brisius, the President of the Volvo Ocean Race ➡️ https://t.co/1dX7ZPlg7B pic.twitter.com/dH1uY9AGHw — Volvo Ocean Race (@volvooceanrace) March 27, 2018 Earlier in the race, Scallywag crewman Alex Gough was swept overboard during a sail change and was rescued within seven minutes. Mr Gough was not wearing a safety harness or life jacket, and skipper David Witt said at the time that he was lucky to be alive. In May 2006, Dutch sailor Hans Horrevoets was swept overboard in the Atlantic Ocean. The crew turned back and found Mr Horrevoets but could not revive him.

This edition of the race had already been tarnished by a collision involving Vestas 11th Hour Racing and a fishing boat that killed a fisherman in January. The collision off Hong Kong sank the fishing boat and caused severe damage to the racing yacht, forcing it to miss the next two legs.

The teams are on Leg 7 from Auckland, New Zealand, to Itajai, Brazil. It will cover 7,600 nautical miles. The entire race will cover some 45,000 nautical miles.</s>SAN DIEGO (AP) — Volvo Race officials said late Monday that chances of finding a missing sailor were rapidly fading in the harsh, remote Southern Ocean some 1,400 miles west of Cape Horn.

John Fisher, a native of Britain who now lives in Adelaide, Australia, had been in the frigid water in rough conditions for some 12 hours when race officials said in a statement that "we acknowledge the chances of a successful recovery are diminishing."

Fisher, 47, an experienced big boat sailor who was sailing in his first Volvo Ocean Race, was reported overboard from Team Sun Hung Kai/Scallywag's 65-foot sloop Monday. He was on watch and wearing appropriate survival gear, according to the statement.

The Maritime Rescue Coordination Center continued to lead efforts to recover Fisher. Because of deteriorating conditions, Team Sun Hung Kai/Scallywag turned downwind and headed toward the South American coast, the nearest safe landfall.

Earlier, the team was searching for Fisher in a strong 35-knot westerly wind, with accompanying sea state. The water temperature was reported as 9-degrees Celsius (48.2 degrees Fahrenheit).

Due to the gale force conditions, it wasn't an option for officials to divert any of the other six yachts, which were at least 200 miles east and downwind of Team Sun Hung Kai/Scallywag, to assist in the search.

Officials said a ship was diverted, but that it was some 400 nautical miles away.

Fisher was a veteran of the Sydney-Hobart, one of the world's top, and toughest, offshore races, the team's website said.

Earlier in the race, Scallywag crewman Alex Gough fell overboard during a sail change and was rescued within seven minutes.

This edition of the classic round-the world race already had been tarnished by a collision involving Vestas 11th Hour Racing and a fishing boat that killed a fisherman. The collision sank the fishing boat and caused severe damage to the racing yacht, forcing it to miss the next two legs.

The teams are on Leg 7 from Auckland, New Zealand, to Itajai, Brazil. It will cover 7,600 nautical miles. The entire race will cover some 45,000 nautical miles.

In May 2006, Dutch sailor Hans Horrevoets was swept overboard when a wave hit ABN AMRO TWO in the Atlantic Ocean. The crew turned back and found Horrevoets but could not revive him.

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A British yachtsman falls overboard from Sun Hung Kai/Scallywag. A search and rescue operation launches, with one ship diverting from over 400 nautical miles away.