Volvo Ocean Race: Solidarity for the "Scallywags"

The first moving images and interviews with members of David Witt's Sun Hung Kai / Scallywag team show a focussed and determined crew in the Brazilian port of Itajaí. The boat had barely been moored in the harbour from Chile by a friendly transfer crew when the latest challenge for the team around skipper David Witt began. With a large group of helpers and many volunteers from the other teams, the equipment was immediately carried off the boat, the sails were taken to the workshop and the boat was quickly craned out of the water. What most of the boats, with the exception of the Vestas 11th Hour Racing team, which also arrived late, had plenty of time to do, the "Scallywags" now have to do in fast motion. "We have two weeks' work to do in just under three days," said "Scallywag" Luke Parkinson, summarising the situation.

The Scallywag transfer crew has reached Itajaí. The crew have just under three days to prepare their boat for the eighth stage

It was clear to see from the faces of David Witt's crew just how heavily the fatal accident of their crew mate and friend John Fisher weighed on their shoulders. The crew, who were ambitious, cheerful and sometimes cheeky before the accident, have lost their familiar smiles. But they are not giving up. "We will probably set a new preparation record in the Volvo Ocean Race," explained navigator Libby Greenhalgh in Itajaí. During the extensive work, the team is not only receiving intensive support from the organisers, but also from all the other teams in the race. "We don't have a second to lose," said a team statement, "we have received a very warm welcome in Itajaí and have the massive support of all the teams. We would like to thank everyone for their incredible help during this difficult time."

Team Sun Hung Kai Scallywag will not be able to take part in the harbour race, which starts today at 7 p.m. German time and will be broadcast live (www.volvooceanrace.com). This means that only six teams will be competing for valuable points for the "Inport" classification in the race around the world. This classification is important because the placings are decisive in the event of any ties in the overall standings. The seventh of a total of eleven harbour races will take place in Itajaí.

So far, there is a "three-class society" in the harbour race rankings: Mapfre (37 points) and Dongfeng (34 points) are battling for victory at the top. Behind them, AkzoNobel (27 points) and Team Brunel (26 points) are fighting for third place on the podium in a kind of Dutch championship. At the back of the field, Vestas 11th Hour Racing (16 points), Sun Hung Kai / Scallywag (15 points) and Dee Caffari's Team Turn the Tide on Plastic (11 points) are struggling to keep up.