Our Mate Alex Thomson’s Races
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@neph93 It’s really a test of courage and determination. The sea and wind hates you and wants to destroy your boat. You’re in the middle of nowhere, where you’re closest rescue could be days away. It takes months to complete the race, and every time you think you have it figured out, something else goes wrong.
These sailors are the elite who become one with their boats, feeling and sensing everything that is going on with it. Then they have to be masters of interpreting weather conditions and understanding how to harness it to their advantage.
I have an utmost respect and admiration for these men and women.
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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”. -
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.
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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.”
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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...!"
