Sea, Sail & Surf news
Volvo Ocean Race
Seb Josse and crew tell their story
They lose their teammate Hans Horrevoets and rescued the crew of movistar
mardi 23 mai 2006 –
- Press conferency in Portsmouth
- Sailing Director, Roy Heiner and skipper Sébastien Josse
British sailor Simon Fisher, Navigator on ABN AMRO TWO explained the moment when in the early hours of Thursday morning Hans had been washed overboard. “The crew were sailing downwind in 25-30 knots of wind under main, fractional spinnaker and staysail. Sebastien Josse was on the helm, Hans was trimming the spinnaker sheet, Nick Bice was on the main Pedestal/mainsheet, Andrew Lewis and Lucas Brun where manning the forward Pedestals when the boat nosedived down a wave and water came washing back down the deck, when the water cleared Hans was no longer on deck.
“Immediately Seb hailed "Man Overboard" and called everyone on deck. I remained below deck and pressed the Man Overboard button on the GPS and Navigation software. The time was 0210GMT. The Jon buoy (inflatable recovery raft) was deployed along with the life ring, smoke flare and flashlight, as well as the other torches that we had in the cockpit.
“The spinnaker was dropped immediately, the staysail furled and the starboard daggerboard lowered. We tacked over and attempted to sail upwind toward the MOB position. The wind direction was 250 magnetic. The engine was switched on and we attempted to motor sail back on a reciprocal course. Due to the strong headwinds it was decided we drop the main, and go under motor alone as it was difficult to maintain a direct course to the MOB position. As soon as we were making headway towards the MOB Simeon Tienpoint donned a drysuit, harness and diving gear in order to assist in recovery of the casualty. The searchlight was also plugged in and brought on deck. Another 5 torches were also brought on deck to assist with the search. The life ring and flare was sighted whilst motoring upwind at a position. The Jon buoy was then spotted some minutes later at and then Hans was spotted approximately 0.15 miles from the MOB position. The time was approx. 0300 GMT.
- Movistar crew transfer
Two days later the crew were called by Volvo HQ and asked to standby to rescue the crew of the stricken movistar. Nick Bice spoke about the moment they heard. “I was steering at the time. As soon as I heard those words, I just wanted to make sure those guys were safe as well. We have a lot of friends on movistar. It makes your heart sink. There was nothing more in my mind than to get those guys off the boat. The call had to be made. When Bouwe made his decision we got them off and I haven’t seen ten happier guys step onto a Volvo 70. It was great to get them to shore safely.”
Simon Fisher continued “Obviously it has been very difficult for all of us but we are a very strong team. We’ve spent a lot of time together over the last year and half and we’ve been there for each other to deal with the situation. It was unfortunate that we had to pick up movistar but actually it was good for the crew to see friendly faces.”
Once the movistar crew were onboard ABN AMRO TWO headed for a rendezvous point off the coast of Falmouth where the crew were transferred. TEAM ABN AMRO, Technical Sailing Director, Roy Heiner explained the procedure to transfer Hans body. “The body was transferred in Falmouth, round 08h37GMT yesterday. We took the body out of the hold, put it on a stretcher, had a minute of silence, and he was transferred to the rubber dinghy and put into the taken to the Royal Netherlands Navy Frigate van Galen. It went to Dover, where it was transferred to a helicopter so that it could be taken to Rotterdam. The family saw the body, were deeply grateful to the crew for bringing Hans’ home. The planning is for the funeral to be on Saturday. The body was released this morning by the coroner.”
Heiner also took time to praise the crew for their action throughout the leg. “This team has been amazingly courageous. They have handled everything in a very professional way and have always made the right decisions showing excellent seamanship throughout. I am very proud of them. Everyone at TEAM ABN AMRO is extremely proud of them”.
Once the body was transferred the crew headed for Portsmouth and the end of their gruelling leg. Simon Fisher explained what it was like to sail into Gunwharf Quays. “We knew it would be hard arriving on dock. This is normally a very emotional moment so we knew this one would be tough. It really blew me away when we arrived back here seeing everyone on the dock. It drove home how much support there is for everyone in this race and what a close-knit family we are.”
The crew will make a decision on whether they will take part in the inport race or the next leg in the next few days. All the crew were adamant that this incident would not put them off sailing and that they would compete in this race again given the chance. Lucas Brun said, “I think the entire group, not just me, would take the decision to sail the Volvo again. Accidents do happen and it could happen to anyone of us but we love sailing. It is our life.”
Finally Andrew Lewis paid tribute to his teammate Hans, “I was on watch with Hans. Off watch he was the person I ate with and the person I woke up with. It’s hard to be woken up by George or Luke and sit there by myself. I spent the last four days alone on my off watches cleaning my own dishes and having no one there to really talk to. Hans was always a positive guy, first to grab a bucket to bildge the boat out, first one to strap a bucket over a leak. If he didn’t have time he would go up on deck in his thermals and get soaking wet and laugh about it later. None of us will forget him. Hans is the reasons I am here, he was the one who felt we were good enough to sail with. Hans was a very important part of this crew and we will miss him.”
- Arriving in Portsmouth
- ABN Amro Two finished leg from New York
Hans Horrevoets
Hans Horrevoets, 32, was a professional ocean sailor with a wealth of sailing experience developed over a number of years and competitions. Hans, from Terheijden in the Netherlands, was an integral part of TEAM ABN AMRO before and during the Volvo Ocean Race.
Hans began working with TEAM ABN AMRO in 2004, sitting on the judging panel who selected the ‘high potential’ sailors for ABN AMRO TWO. Hans was asked to join the crew by Seb Josse after one of the initial crew members withdrew. Hans was one of the most experienced members onboard having already completed the Volvo/Whitbread Ocean Race, finishing eighth with BrunelSunergy in 1997/1998 under Roy Heiner. He had also competed in many other high profile races and regattas, including Cowes Week, Mumm36 European Circuit and a number of years onboard the Swan 56 Aqua Equinox. Horrevoets was an accomplished skipper, helmsman, trimmer, sailmaker and tactician. Hans leaves behind his partner, Petra and young daughter, Bobbi.
Hans’ stats
December 2004 - March 2005 : Project TEAM ABN AMRO in the Volvo Ocean Race 2005-2006 Judge in the crew selections for the “High Potentials” crew
2004 : Grand Soleil 44 Race Holmatro ; skipper / tactitian ; winner Gotland Runt, winner Channel Race, best boat out of fleet Commodores Cup, winner Cowes Week Swan 56 Aqua Equinox ; trimmer
2003 : Swan 56 Aqua Equinox ; coach ; winner European Championships Grand Soleil 44 Race Holmatro ; skipper / tactician ; winner Cowes Week & Fastnet Bols Maxi ; helmsman / trimmer
2002 : Swan 56 Aqua Equinox ; coach / trimmer Grand Soleil 40 Race Satori ; skipper Copa del Rey on board of IMX40 Xiphias ; trimmer
2001 : Swan 56 Aqua Equinox ; coach / trimmer Grand Soleil 40 Race Satori ; skipper Caribbean Circuit on board of Swan60 Sotto Voce ; trimmer Students Worlds on board of Beneteau Figaro ; tactician ; European Champion
2000 : Belgium Volvo Campaign on board of the Yess ; skipper
1999 : Belgium Volvo Campaign on board of the Yess ; co-skipper
1997 / 1998 : Whitbread Around the World Race on board of BrunelSunergy ; trimmer and sail maker
1996 : Mumm36 European Circuit Preparation for Whitbread Around the World Race 1997/1998
1995 : Mumm36 European Circuit (with Roy Heiner) Match Racing (with Roy Heiner)
Voir en ligne : http://team.abnamro.com/
Tributes to Hans Horrevoets
Mike Sanderson, Skipper of ABN ARMO ONE : “Hans was so dedicated to sailing and the whole TEAM ABN AMRO campaign. He loved the experience and always had a huge grin from ear to ear when he was sailing. Over the past two years we have grown as a very big family at TEAM ABN AMRO, and those of you out there that knew Hans will agree with me that he was just the most lovely team player and family man, all we can do here is think of Petra his partner, Bobbi his little girl and the rest of Hans’ family, that where so supportive of him being in the race. To Petra, Bobbi and all of Hans’ Family, I can’t say enough how very, very sorry and sad we are and our thoughts and prayers go out too you.”
Bouwe Bekking, Skipper of Movistar : “We were all extremely devastated by the news. I knew Hans very well and sailed a lot with him. We won the Swan Europeans together and Mike Joubert sailed with him on BrunelSunergy in 97/98. He was a great man and I am very sad to lose a good friend.”
Matt Humphries, Skipper of Brunel : “The sailing community is like one big family and we are all shocked by the news of Hans’ death. That night wsa a rough night for everyone involved in the race and as soon as we heard the news we made our way to try and be of assistance. Some of us have sailed with Hans and he was a highly respected sailor. Team Brunel deeply saddened by what’s happened. We are passionate about our sport and we all feel the loss of one of our own.”
Neil McDonald, Skipper of Ericsson : “There’s no other way of putting our feelings other than we are all shocked and saddened by the loss of Hans. In this sport there are always conditions that you can’t control or predict. This is a tragic, tragic loss. Hans was a very talented young sailor and will be missed.”
Torben Grael, Skipper of Brasil 1 : “It was with shock and astonishment that we received the terrible news. As part of the Volvo family, we feel the loss of Hans Horrevoets like a loss within our own family. We can only imagine the feelings within those who were closer to him. At moments like these, there’s not much to say but we just want you all to know that this is also our loss. If there’s anything at all that can be done by us to help in anyway, please count on us.”
Paul Cayard - Pirates of the Caribbean : "It was a very sad day out here on the North Atlantic. Words can not properly address the emotions that we all have inside of us, nor the magnitude of this tragedy. Our thoughts and prayers are with the crew of ABN AMRO TWO and the family of Hans Horrevoets, who left behind a wife and daughter. It is a harsh world out here when it gets rough and these boats start doing excess of 30 knots. I think the crew of ABN AMRO TWO should be given a special recognition from the highest levels of our sport for finding Hans in 40 minutes on a pitch black night with four meter waves. There are no words worthy of expressing the magnitude of such a tragedy.”
Rijkman Groenink, Chairman of the Managing Board of ABN AMRO : "The news of Hans Horrevoets’ death left us deeply shocked. Over the past year and a half, from preparation to where we are now, TEAM ABN AMRO has become an integral part of the ABN AMRO family. We shared in the excitement leading up to the race and celebrated our achievements since the race began. Now, in this tragic moment, we feel the loss of a family member.
Our thoughts at this time are with Hans’ family, especially his partner and their young daughter, and also with his fellow crew members."
Jan Berent Heukensfeldt Jansen, Managing Director of TEAM ABN AMRO : “We are all shocked and devastated by this terrible news and our thoughts now are very much with Hans’ family. Hans was a great man and a great member of our team. We are all aware of the risks that sailors face but nothing can prepare you for this kind of tragedy. My thoughts are also with the crew who I understand behaved in the most professional manner and reacted immediately.”
Quotes regarding Seb Josse and his crew
Mike Sanderson, Skipper, ABN AMRO ONE : “What Seb and his crew have done is an incredible feat and nothing should distract from that. Throughout their ordeal they have handled themselves with the utmost professionalism and shown great teamwork. To actually locate Hans in complete darkness and in 25 knot winds is an amazing thing to do and shows the incredible seamanship of Seb. Then to get over the initial shock and respond to call from movistar as quickly as they did shows the strength of these guys.”
Andy Hindley, Race Director for the Volvo Ocean Race : “The fact that the crew were able react so quickly and find Hans within 40 minutes was almost a miracle which has to be down to one thing - their seamanship and their ability to perform under serious pressure.”
Mark Rudiger, Navigator for Ericsson : “For me, and most of us, we have a sailor’s code that is an unspoken knowledge of the risks we take going to sea, and that should we meet our fate, we imagine what we would say if it was us : Carry on for me, and help teach others to learn from me how to save other sailor’s lives.
“I know ABN AMRO TWO’s skipper and crew did all they could to keep Hans aboard to begin with, and I highly commend them for finding their way back to Hans as quickly and efficiently as they did. Without being out here, you can’t imagine the Herculean efforts needed to stop and turn one of these machines around, much less locate a needle in a haystack.”
“In case anyone thinks we are being reckless or that this sport is dangerous, the statistics will show that a very small percent of sailors are lost or perish, we are very safety conscious as is the Volvo Race organisation.”
Bouwe Bekking, Skipper, movistar : "It was hard to ask the ABN AMRO TWO boys to come back as they already had plenty on their plate. It’s been a very hard call for them and, hopefully, they can find a little comfort in the fact that they have saved 10 lives. A boat is just a boat, you can replace it, but lives you cannot."
Paul Cayard, Skipper, Pirates of the Caribbean : “I think the crew of ABN AMRO TWO should be given the seamanship of the century award for not only finding Hans but doing so within 40 minutes. I think we all need to hear how they acted and what procedures they followed.”
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