The Volvo Ocean Race is one of the great seagoing challenges and has a long history. What makes the race around the world so appealing to so many veteran sailors is both the close racing between the boats and the business of sailing at the very edge of danger for days and weeks at a time. One of those dangers is getting swept overboard, an accident that can be fatal and one that the crews train for. On Leg 4, a crew member did fall overboard and was rescued. Read Helen Fretter’s story from Yachting Monthly and watch the excellent videos.
On 14 January, some 2,000 miles from Hong Kong, 25-year-old Alex Gough was swept overboard from the Volvo 65 Sun Hung Kai Scallywag as they prepared for a sail change. Alex Gough describes his man overboard recovery, while Jack Bouttell of Dongfeng Race Team explains the MOB routines on a Volvo 65. Read more and watch the videos.