Southern Ocean a cruel passing for the VolvoOceanRace.

This  version of the VolvoOceanRace, have seen a cruel passage through the Southern Ocean. 
This part of the VOR, is mostly the feared Leg, for boat breakages and losses in the classification if you don't sail without damage to Cape Horn. This year the double counting of points will double the losses when no escaping unscaved.

The worst this year is the lost of a sailor at sea,  John Fisher from SunHungKai/ Scallywag. During a broach, he was swept overboard in big winds , high waves and icy water temperatures. The crew did all possible to search for him and find him, but had in the end to conclude that he was lost and sail on to safe the boat and crew from an approaching Low storm. Scallywag is now going to a port on the Chilean coast.

Mapfre, damage a rail on their mast that holds the Main Sail already early in the  Leg. With some reefs set and ratchet bands they could hold all together and continue more or less, till just before Cape Horn their Main Sail teared completely horizontally. They had to stop for a repair pitstop and could resume sailing after some 13 hours.

Vestas, have lost their mast, just some 100 Nm south of the Falklands. The boat and crew is safe and they are motoring to the Falklands.

Brunel, some 50Nm ahead of the Cape, had a collision and the tiller link to the lee rudder broke, the had a broach but could recover and with some spares on board make a repair. I believe their boat is sound again.

Turn the Tide on Plastic,mentioned a slow down, to make a inspection of a spreader on their mast. They found something suspicious. Have not heard from them, till now, but on the tracker I see they are sailing some 12 hrs later, a normal speed and course, so I expect that there are no further problems.

Fair winds and safe sailing till Itajai.