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    Iron Heart Fall/Winter 2025 Collection Preview - Now Live

    Our Mate Alex Thomson’s Races

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    • goosehdG
      goosehd
      Mod Squad
      Joined:

      The latest:

      Morning! Here’s a quick update for you from our Technical Director, Ross Daniel:
      “Yesterday evening, Alex decided to take advantage of the light conditions to further reinforce the repairs that he has done onboard HUGO BOSS in order to increase the safety factors before he enters the Southern Ocean.
      “To do this, he had to slow the boat down slightly so that he could work in relatively stable conditions. With the new weather front crossing the fleet today, which will carry them south, Alex knew that last night would be his last opportunity to complete this reinforcement.
      “This morning we’ve been able to take a good look at the work that Alex did overnight. It looks good and we are very happy with what he has been able to do.
      “Alex is now back into racing mode and is preparing for the Southern Ocean”.

      "I don't give a shit what anyone else is doing, we will do what is best for us and our customers" - Giles P. :)

      last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • GilesG
        Giles
        IHUK Crew
        Joined:

        Even with that, he took approx 30 miles out of Charlie's lead over the last 24 hours…..

        "OK face up to it - you're useless but generally pretty honest and straightforward . . . it's a rare combination of qualities that I have come to admire in you" - Geo 2011

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        • S
          Snowy
          Joined:

          I love tracking this series every year. Alex is a mad man, but guess by now we all know that. Insane.

          last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • AetasA
            Aetas
            見習いボス
            Joined:

            As I am following Boris Herrmann as well, thougt to share this here …

            last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • goosehdG
              goosehd
              Mod Squad
              Joined:

              Lastest update:  😞

              At approximately 19:00 UTC this evening (Friday 27th November) – 19 days into the Vendée Globe round-the-world yacht race – Alex Thomson notified his technical team on shore of damage to the starboard rudder of his HUGO BOSS boat.

              The team immediately advised Thomson to disconnect the rudder to regain steerage. He now has control of the yacht with one rudder, and is safe and in no danger onboard.

              The team is working to assess the extent of the damage. A further update will be released on Saturday 28th November.

              "I don't give a shit what anyone else is doing, we will do what is best for us and our customers" - Giles P. :)

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              • S
                Snowy
                Joined:

                seems like the boat's determined to break. How much can Alex fix? All the things?!

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                • GilesG
                  Giles
                  IHUK Crew
                  Joined:

                  He'll run out of spares at some point…..

                  "OK face up to it - you're useless but generally pretty honest and straightforward . . . it's a rare combination of qualities that I have come to admire in you" - Geo 2011

                  last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                  • GilesG
                    Giles
                    IHUK Crew
                    Joined:

                    I'm so sorry Alex.  At the end of the day, I guess the boat was just not fit for purpose….Come fishing with me when you're back and cheer yourself up.....

                    "OK face up to it - you're useless but generally pretty honest and straightforward . . . it's a rare combination of qualities that I have come to admire in you" - Geo 2011

                    last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                    • goosehdG
                      goosehd
                      Mod Squad
                      Joined:

                      Much respect for Alex and the team.  I’m sure that it was a difficult decision, but definitely the right one.

                      "I don't give a shit what anyone else is doing, we will do what is best for us and our customers" - Giles P. :)

                      last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                      • GilesG
                        Giles
                        IHUK Crew
                        Joined:

                        A broken man….. 😢 😢 😢

                        "OK face up to it - you're useless but generally pretty honest and straightforward . . . it's a rare combination of qualities that I have come to admire in you" - Geo 2011

                        last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                        • goosehdG
                          goosehd
                          Mod Squad
                          Joined:

                          That made me a little misty eyed… 😞

                          ...and this makes me pissed off.

                          Here is Alex's thoughts on what happened to his rudder:

                          The bitterly disappointed 46 years old from Gosport, Hampshire in England has explained briefly what happened to his rudder, believing that some discarded or lost fishing equipment cause the fracture,

                          “I was averaging 21 knots, flying the small gennaker and one reef in the mainsail. I was down below when there was a huge bang and the boat broached violently. The steering system was jammed and all I could do was roll the sails away. Once on deck I could see the rudder blade was broken and swinging around with a large piece of fishing gear jammed into the cracks. So I think I must have hit something. It certainly looks that way. Now I am having to keep the boat flat while I sail the boat now with just one rudder to Cape Town.”

                          "I don't give a shit what anyone else is doing, we will do what is best for us and our customers" - Giles P. :)

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                          • goosehdG
                            goosehd
                            Mod Squad
                            Joined:

                            It is shameful to see what we are doing to our oceans!!  Here are visual examples of commercial fishing ghost gear:

                            and the Great Pacific Garbage Patch:

                            "I don't give a shit what anyone else is doing, we will do what is best for us and our customers" - Giles P. :)

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                            • GilesG
                              Giles
                              IHUK Crew
                              Joined:

                              It's carnage down there….

                              https://www.vendeeglobe.org/en/news/20681/kevin-escoffier-prb-activates-distress-beacon-jean-le-cam-alters-course-to-assist

                              "OK face up to it - you're useless but generally pretty honest and straightforward . . . it's a rare combination of qualities that I have come to admire in you" - Geo 2011

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                              • GilesG
                                Giles
                                IHUK Crew
                                Joined:

                                Jean Le Cam is an old school yachtsman in an old school (no foils) yacht who has been punching well above his weight.

                                A French friend of mine just sent me this message…..

                                "Poor Jean!! he's the only one with a workable boat and now he's obliged to come and help the others...!"

                                "OK face up to it - you're useless but generally pretty honest and straightforward . . . it's a rare combination of qualities that I have come to admire in you" - Geo 2011

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                                • goosehdG
                                  goosehd
                                  Mod Squad
                                  Joined:

                                  Quick update:

                                  Jean le Cam has arrived in the area and has seen Kevin in his life raft. He is under engine preparing to recover Escoffier. More info to come.

                                  "I don't give a shit what anyone else is doing, we will do what is best for us and our customers" - Giles P. :)

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                                  • hajdukH
                                    hajduk
                                    啓蒙家
                                    Joined:

                                    Le Cam is famous to take «seriously» les plaisirs de la vie in consideration on his boat! Some nice bottle of wine and some good meals for ex. [emoji6]

                                    Envoyé de mon iPhone en utilisant Tapatalk

                                    "Ignorance, allied with power, is the most ferocious enemy justice can have" James Baldwin.

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                                    • goosehdG
                                      goosehd
                                      Mod Squad
                                      Joined:

                                      More news:

                                      Two Other Skippers Have Been Requested To Head To The Zone
                                      30 November 2020 - 19:30 •

                                      Race Direction have requested that Boris Herrmann and Yannick Bestaven alter course to head to the zone to help.

                                      "I don't give a shit what anyone else is doing, we will do what is best for us and our customers" - Giles P. :)

                                      last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                      • GilesG
                                        Giles
                                        IHUK Crew
                                        Joined:

                                        JEEZ…..

                                        "OK face up to it - you're useless but generally pretty honest and straightforward . . . it's a rare combination of qualities that I have come to admire in you" - Geo 2011

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                                        • goosehdG
                                          goosehd
                                          Mod Squad
                                          Joined:

                                          This doesn’t look good….they have just requested another skipper to the area.

                                          Race Direction have requested that Boris Herrmann and Yannick Bestaven and also Sebstien Simon alter course to head to the zone to help.

                                          "I don't give a shit what anyone else is doing, we will do what is best for us and our customers" - Giles P. :)

                                          last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                          • AetasA
                                            Aetas
                                            見習いボス
                                            Joined:

                                            Told my kids not to worry, because Cam was very near.
                                            But to request  three skippers into the zone doesn‘t sound harmless.
                                            Fingers crossed …

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