Damage from fatal collision puts Vestas’ Volvo Ocean Race future in doubt as they pull out of inshore events in Hong Kong
A statement from the team said they would not compete in the weekend’s In-Port Race and Around the Island Race as well as leg five to Guangzhou
Vestas 11th Hour Racing’s future in the 2017-18 Volvo Ocean Race is in doubt after the team pulled out of this weekend’s inshore races as well as leg five from Hong Kong to Guangzhou, with the skipper saying they are still “assessing all of our options to return to the race”.
The American-Danish yacht was involved in an accident that caused the death of a mainland fisherman in the early hours of Saturday morning, 30 miles from the finish line of leg four in Hong Kong after a 6,000-nautical mile race from Melbourne, Australia.
Vestas and a Chinese fishing boat were involved in the collision, which resulted in the death of one mainland fisherman and the rescue of nine others. None of the Vestas crew was injured but the boat suffered damage to its hull. The race was won by Hong Kong’s Sun Hung Kai/Scallywag.
“At this time, we are still assessing all of our options to return to the race,” co-skipper Charlie Enright said in a statement on Friday. “We once again thank everyone for their continued support.”