Fears for British sailor missing in yacht race

A British yachtsman has gone missing during the round-the-world Volvo Ocean Race, it was reported last night, after he fell overboard in the Southern Ocean during gale force winds.

John Fisher, who is originally from Southampton but now lives in Adelaide, went missing from the yacht Skh/scallywag yesterday some 1,400 miles west of Cape Horn on the tip of South America.

Fisher, 47, who is competing in his Volvo Ocean Race but said to be an experienced sailor, was wearing survival equipment when he went overboard, officials said. “Naturally we are deeply concerned, especially given the conditions,” organisers said.