Following the collision between Vestas 11th Hour Racing and a
non-racing vessel in the final stages of the racing leg into Hong Kong,
the organisers of the Volvo Ocean Race have commissioned an independent
report into ocean racing at night in areas of high vessel traffic
density, to establish what steps race organisers may take to mitigate
risk going forward.
The report will be conducted by an Independent Report Team (IRT),
chaired by Rear Admiral Chris Oxenbould AO RAN (Rtd) and assisted by
Stan Honey and Chuck Hawley. Rear Admiral Oxenbould is a former deputy chief of the Australian
Navy and an experienced ocean racing yachtsman with a particular
expertise in navigation. He is also the former chairman of Australia
Sailing’s National Safety Committee.
Renowned current sailor and ocean navigational expert, Stan Honey,
who won the Volvo Ocean Race 2005-06 as navigator onboard ABN AMRO ONE,
and Chuck Hawley, who is the former chairman of the U.S. Sailing Safety
at Sea Committee, will assist Rear Admiral Oxenbould on the report.
The IRT will examine all the issues associated with racing a Volvo
Ocean 65, or similar racing boat, at night in areas of high vessel
traffic density, drawing on the experiences in recent editions of the
Volvo Ocean Race.
Any findings from the report that could benefit the wider sailing
community will be released. It is intended that the IRT will make its
report available to Volvo Ocean Race by June 2018.
Phil Lawrence, Race Director, stated: “Understandably, there has been
a lot of reaction to this incident in the sailing community, but the
fact is, it takes time to make a responsible assessment of what could be
done differently to minimise risk and increase safety.
“Our sailors, as qualified professionals, understand their
responsibilities under the International Regulations for Preventing
Collisions at Sea, Racing Rules of Sailing and the Rules of the Volvo
Ocean Race.
“As race organisers, we will continue to evaluate safety as we race
over the coming months and take the appropriate steps to minimise risk.”
concluded Lawrence.
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