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Tragedy at the Volvo Ocean Race

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Saturday night, at 1:20 am local time, Vestas 11th Hour Racing's blue-and-blue VO 65 boat participating in the Volvo Ocean Race circumnavigation collided with a fishing boat. The collision occurred 30 miles from Hong Kong, where the finish line of stage 4 of the VOR takes place. Of the 10 fishermen, one person could not be rescued. No one on board the Vestas 11th Hour Racing was injured.

At the time of the collision, Vestas was sailing in second place in VOR Stage 4 from Melbourne to Hong Kong at around 20 knots. The yacht sustained hull damage but was able to reach Hong Kong on her own.

The fishing vessel sank after the collision. It is not known whether it had AIS on board and whether the proper navigation lights were switched on. The Volvo Ocean Race is taking place for the first time with a stopover in Hong Kong. Vessel traffic in its coastal area is very heavy.

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