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Nazvi Careem

Scallywag skipper David Witt said the heartache of losing friend and crew mate John Fisher will stay with him for the rest of his life.
Sixteen months after Fisher was declared lost at sea during the Ocean Race, Hong Kong-based Australian Witt said it was impossible to recover.
“I don’t think you ever personally recover from losing someone like that, in those circumstances and it’s something I’ve got to deal with every day,” said Witt.
“I have certainly had ups and downs about it but you know, thinking I’m going to recover from it, that’s not going to happen. I’ve just got to realise that it’s going to travel with me every day, especially at the times I’m out there doing the sort of stuff that happened then.

“I just have to do my best to prevent it from ever happening again, but it’s never going to go away. I’m going to die with it.”
The 47-year-old Fisher was presumed lost at sea after he fell overboard during the Ocean Race leg from Auckland, New Zealand, to Itajai in Brazil.

The experienced and popular sailor fell into the treacherous Southern Ocean while on watch about 1,400 miles from Cape Horn. Witt and his crew conducted an intensive search of the area under difficult conditions, but were eventually forced to call off the operation and continue on to the coast of South America.
Scallywag abandoned the race. Earlier, Fisher played an integral role in helping the Sun Hung Kai-sponsored boat win the Melbourne to Hong Kong leg and finish second in the race to Auckland.
Witt said Fisher’s family and his partner, Kim Pascoe, as well as owner Lee Seng Huang have provided sincere support since the incident.
‘To say I feel responsible is an understatement’: Scallywag skipper Witt
“They have been supportive, they’ve been great,” said Witt. “I mean it’s very difficult for everybody in those sort of situations. My partner Kim has been hugely supportive.
“Sun Hung Kai, they’ve been great, they’ve been like my family. It affected a lot of people in a lot of different ways.”
After the race, in which Scallywag finished seventh out of seven boats, Witt said he was unlikely to enter again. However, he has since had a change of heart and revealed in July that he would be interested in the 2021-22 Ocean Race as long as he had enough preparation.

“It’s something we are seriously looking into at the moment,” said Witt, who led Scallywag’s 100-foot maxi version to victory in the prestigious Transatlantic 2019. “It’s on the radar for sure. We just want to make sure that if we do the Ocean Race again, we are going to do it with enough preparation and proper budget so that we have a chance to win the race rather than just compete.”
Witt, however, said he would only in interested in sailing the new Imoca 60 boats. The next Ocean Race will feature two classes of boats – the single-design VO65 used during the previous race and the Imoca 60s, which are at the cutting edge of technology and allow for flexibility in design.

The Ocean Race - Launch Event https://t.co/D8G6LP2VMs
— The Ocean Race (@theoceanrace) March 21, 2019

He also said any Hong Kong entry would need to start the process by the end of the year if they were to be competitive.
“I don’t want to do it again on those 65 boats,” said Witt. “I’ve been pretty vocal about it. If we are going to do it, it would be on the Imoca 60.”


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Volvo Ocean Race 2017-18

‘I’m going to die with it’ – Scallywag skipper David Witt says loss of friend John Fisher will stay with him

John Fisher takes a rest during the Ocean Race in March 2018. Photo: Ocean Race

Scallywag crews celebration winning of the Leg 4 in the Volvo Ocean Race. Photo: Volvo Ocean Race

Leg 9 Newport to Cardiff Day 4 on board Sun Hung Kai/Scallywag. David Witt helming. 23 May, 2018.

Transatlantic Race 2019 Newport, RI USA to Cowes, Isle of Wight UK. Scallywag takes line honours in Cowes Isle of Wight.

Scallywag skipper David Witt says another Ocean Race tilt only viable with proper preparation and budget – with an aim to win

The Scallywag crew pose on the deck of their super maxi 100-footer after taking line honours in the Transatlantic Race 2019. Photo: Rick Tomlinson

David Witt in Newport

Will Scallywag win again in Volvo Ocean Race? We can with the support of Hong Kong fans, says skipper David Witt

Scallywag sailors celebrate their victory after landing in Hong Kong. Photo: Volvo Ocean Race

Leg 4, Melbourne to Hong Kong, day 18 Still over a 100 nm to go but after nearly three weeks at sea it feels like the finish is near on board Sun Hung Kai/Scallywag. Photo by Konrad Frost/Volvo Ocean Race. 16 January, 2018.

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Hong Kong-based Australian says he has accepted the heartache will remain – 16 months after the incident
Fisher fell into the Southern Ocean on the way to Brazil during the Volvo Ocean Race and was presumed lost at sea



Hong Kong-based Australian says he has accepted the heartache will remain – 16 months after the incident


‘I’m going to die with it’ – Scallywag skipper David Witt says loss of friend John Fisher will stay with him

Hong Kong-based Australian says he has accepted the heartache will remain – 16 months after the incident Fisher fell into the Southern Ocean on the way to Brazil during the Volvo Ocean Race and was presumed lost at sea

Hong Kong-based Australian says he has accepted the heartache will remain – 16 months after the incident

Fisher fell into the Southern Ocean on the way to Brazil during the Volvo Ocean Race and was presumed lost at sea