The search for Mohammed Al Alawi the sailor reported Lost Overboard on Wednesday 7 October, pre-dawn, just south of Pula in Croatia has been called off and the crewman is now presumed to have died.
” In an immensely sad decision and after nine days, we are accompanying Mohammed’s father and uncle back to Muscat to be with their family at this tragic time said David Graham, Oman Sail Chief Executive Officer adding, “We are completely devastated,”
Mohammed [26] had been a sailor and sailing instructor with Oman Sail for many years, he was a cherished member of the team with a hugely positive approach and passion for the sport.
He was a highly respected colleague and will be greatly missed.
The MOD70 trimaran Musandam-Oman Sail was on a delivery from Lorient, France to Trieste in Italy for the Barcolana. A combined search effort between the Croatian coastguard and Oman Sail began immediately using all means available: aircraft, RIBs, the MOD70 and coastguard launches.
Time and tidal patterns prompted the search to shift to the Italian side of the Adriatic Sea between Ancona and Rimini. The search in this area continued using a light aircraft that searched the coast and coastal waters, sadly, without results.