23.11.2006, 15:00
VELUX 5 OCEANS - Media Alert
DRAMATIC Southern Ocean rescue in the VELUX 5 Oceans
Mike Golding turns back to rescue Alex Thomson as British skipper
abandons ship
At 11:00 GMT this morning, Alex Thomson (GBR) officially informed the
VELUX 5 OCEANS race organisers that he will abandon ship as a result of
the severe structural failure to the keel onboard HUGO BOSS. Fellow
British skipper Mike Golding (ECOVER), the nearest competitor in second
place, immediately responded to the request for assistance and turned
back upwind to assist his compatriot and fellow competitor.
Thomson is unhurt and is currently drifting downwind 1,000 nautical
miles south of Cape Town, South Africa, with reduced sail up, making 4-5
knots. Based on the last position of HUGO BOSS, some 80 miles due west
of ECOVER, Golding will have to sail upwind in 30 knots of wind and big
seas to rendezvous with Alex. Plans to rescue Thomson from HUGO BOSS are
being formulated between skippers and race control. Mike Golding expects
to reach HUGO BOSS in around 7-8 hours time.
Thomson made the difficult decision to abandon ship after liaising with
his shore team to try to bring the keel under control. But sadly the
breakage is irreparable and it is with great reluctance that Thomson and
the team have concurred that it is not safe for him to continue in the
VELUX 5 OCEANS. The skippers are in contact with race control who are
monitoring the positions of the boats, and have also requested Koji
Shiraishi on SPIRIT OF YUKOH make best speed towards HUGO BOSS to
provide assistance and back-up.
Alex Thomson's shore team issued the following statement:
"Alex and his shore team have found a temporary solution but it is just
not reliable enough for him to risk continuing in the VELUX 5 Oceans
yacht race. Alex is very tired and hugely disappointed but he is being
extremely focused and pragmatic. His safety is of utmost importance and
the priority now is to get Alex safely off the boat."
David Adams, Race Director, commented, "The safety of all the skippers
is the most important priority for us. The minute that Alex informed us
that he was going to abandon ship we requested that Mike Golding turn
back to assist in a rescue. We have continued to liaise with all the
relevant teams, as well as the South African marine rescue coordination
centre. We are in regular communication with Mike, Alex and Kojiro."
Dubbed the 'Ultimate Solo Challenge', the VELUX 5 OCEANS is a 30,000
nautical mile single-handed yacht race, taking the skippers through some
of the toughest and most extreme conditions on the planet. Thomson was
en route from Bilbao (Spain) to Fremantle (Australia). Sailing solo
around the world is truly one of the world's toughest sporting
endeavours. Since the start of the race from Bilbao, the fleet of the
VELUX 5 OCEANS has been hit by hurricane force winds that forced 4 boats
back to shore and now in the Southern Ocean, the skippers are
experiencing some of greatest challenges in sport.
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