DETERIORATING WEATHER FORCED a Volvo Ocean Race yacht to abandon its search for a British crew member washed overboard in the hostile Southern Ocean yesterday, with organisers admitting the man is now “presumed to have been lost at sea”. There had been dwindling hopes of rescuing the 47-year-old after he fell over the side of the Team Sun Hung Kai yacht at around 2pm and roughly 1,400 nautical miles west of Cape Horn. The Scallywag team conducted an “an exhaustive search for several hours in extremely challenging weather conditions” but were unable to recover the yachtsman, according to a statement released by the Volvo Ocean Race on Tuesday morning. Fisher, who is from Southampton but had been living in Australia, disappeared overboard in one of the remotest stretches of ocean in the world on the leg seven race from New Zealand to Brazil. A statement from Richard Brisius, the President of the Volvo Ocean Race read: “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.”

Organisers also said a ship that was within 400 miles of the accident site was diverted to look for Fisher and Chilean maritime rescue authorities were attempting to contact other vessels for help.
Chilean search and rescue authorities declare that a crewman who fell overboard from a competitor vessel is lost at sea.