Young Aussie sailor could have lost life after being knocked overboard
VETERAN Australian skipper David Witt says young Volvo round the world race sailor Alex Gough was lucky he was washed overboard during daylight hours or he might not be alive to tell the tale.
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A DARK night with a little more wind and veteran Australian skipper David Witt says young Volvo round-the-world race sailor Alex Gough might not be alive to tell the tale of being washed overboard in the Volvo round the world race.
Gough was at the centre of a dramatic “man overboard” in the Melbourne-to-Hong Kong leg of the race yesterday when he went over the side of Team Sun Hung Kai/Scallywag and into the Pacific Ocean.
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The experienced Witt, who survived the deadly 1998 Sydney to Hobart, managed to turn the yacht back towards Gough within 30 seconds of the incident, and the 24-year-old Gough, in his first round-the-world race, was plucked from the sea little more than seven minutes after falling overboard.
“More knots of wind, black, you’re dead,’’ Witt told the young Australian sailor. “The only reason we found you was you put your arm in the air.’’
Former dinghy sailor Gough, who was outside the lifelines – guide rails – during a sail change, was pulled back on board without injury but copped a scolding from Witt.
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“In those situation you should, one, be tethered on, or two, at a minimum, tell the driver what you are doing so he knows,” Witt said. “He didn’t do either of those.
“He went out on the outrigger. I was driving and we went off a big sea and it picked him up threw him off, like a horse,” Witt said. “The main thing is, we got him back on board. He’s safe.”
Gough was in his crew uniform of black shirt and shorts, which made it difficult for Witt and his team to spot him in the dark sea. He was not wearing a lifejacket.
“I think it just shows everyone how hard it is to actually see the guy in the water even in 18 knots and sunshine,” Witt said.
“You wouldn’t want to be trying to do it in 20 knots and the dark. I don’t know you’d find him.’’
Gough admits he learnt a harsh lesson. “I was pretty stupid, but luckily the guys were on to it. They turned around bloody quickly,’’ he said. “I’m good. I’m fine. It was a bit scary … but off we go again.
“Credit to the lads, they turned round bloody quick. They were heading back to me in 30 seconds.’’
Witt has his own experience of going overboard after a terrifying knockdown on the supermaxi Ragamuffin during the 2015 Sydney to Hobart.
“It was 10 to 10.30 at night when the southerly hit. It was intense and relentless. We were trying to get the main down heading north when the boat literally capsized on top of us,’’ Witt said at the time.
“Shave [Justin Shave] was on the bow and under water, the main, half down, knocked me off the back of the boat. I was hanging on to the back end and my sea boots were dragged off me.’’
Despite losing time during the man overboard incident yesterday, Scallywag continued to lead the Volvo Ocean race fleet to its home port.