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Hopes fading for lost British sailor John Fisher in Volvo Ocean Race

Volvo Ocean Race organisers have conceded that the chances of finding lost British sailor John Fisher are fading fast.

The Team Sun Hung Kai crewman fell from yacht Scallywag early this morning (NZ time), while on watch and the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre has assisted in a Southern Ocean search since.

But with weather deteriorating fast, race organisers arent hopeful of success.

Given the severity of the forecast and with nightfall just over an hour away, we acknowledge the chances of a successful recovery are diminishing, they said in a statement.

Team Sun Hung Kai has made the difficult decision to turn downwind and head towards the South American coast - the nearest safe landfall - about 2200km away.

The boat reported Fishers disappearance at 1:42am, about 225km west of Cape Horn, the southern tip of South America.

He was wearing survival equipment when he went overboard and the remaining crew are reported safe. The wind was a strong 35-knot westerly, with water temperature of 9degC at the time of the incident.

Rescue officials discounted the option of diverting other ocean race yachts to the scene to help with the search - the nearest was more than 300km away and downwind. They located a ship about 650km away and diverted that to the scene.

Naturally, we are deeply concerned, especially given the weather conditions, race officials said in an earlier statement. The wind was a strong 35-knot westerly, with water temperature of 9degC at the time of the incident.

The Volvo Ocean Race is a 83,340km event around the world, with a field of seven boats currently contesting Leg 7 from Auckland to Itajai, Brazil.

For more infomation >> Hopes fading for lost British sailor John Fisher in Volvo Ocean Race - Duration: 2:58.

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John Fisher: British yachtsman missing after falling overboard on Volvo Ocean round-the-world race - Duration: 3:07.

John Fisher: British yachtsman missing after falling overboard on Volvo Ocean round-the-world race

Hopes of saving a British sailor who fell overboard during a round-the-world race are "diminishing" due to bad weather and low light, organisers have said.

Yachtsman John Fisher, who now lives in Adelaide, Australia, fell from Team Sun Hung Kai's (SHK) Scallywag yacht in the Southern Ocean 1,400 nautical miles west of Cape Horn, at 1. 42pm on Monday.

Volvo Ocean Race organisers said a search was under way for the 47-year-old but acknowledged the severity of the forecast and lack of light meant the chances of a rescue were slim.

They said the Scallywag team aboard the 65ft yacht conducted an exhaustive search for Mr Fisher but was forced to turn downwind and head towards the nearest safe landfall on the South American coast.

"The weather in the area is forecast to deteriorate significantly in the coming hours," they said in a statement.

None of the other six yachts could be diverted to help in the search due to gale-force winds, they added.

"SHK/Scallywag has thus made the difficult decision to turn downwind and head towards the South American coast, the nearest safe landfall, approximately 1,200 nautical miles away.

The wind in the area at the time was a strong 35-knot westerly and the water temperature was 9C.

The Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre requested one ship divert to the scene and is continuing to contact other ships that may be able to help.

Mr Fisher was taking part in his first Volvo Ocean Race, a 45,000 nautical mile race around the world.

The teams were on leg seven from Auckland, New Zealand, to Iajai, Brazil, when Mr Fisher went missing.

He was on watch and wearing appropriate survival gear when he went overboard, the organisers said.