24.11.2006, 10:00
British solo sailors complete emergency rescue in Southern Ocean
Between the hours of 04.45 and 06.30 GMT this morning a dramatic rescue operation took place in the treacherous icy waters of the Southern Ocean. Devastated solo sailor Alex Thomson (GBR) abandoned his yacht HUGO BOSS, after it suffered severe structural failure to the keel, and transferred via life raft to Mike Golding's yacht ECOVER. Thomson and Golding (GBR) both highly experienced yachtsmen and fellow competitors in the VELUX 5 Oceans race, carried out the hairy rescue operation with the utmost caution. It took four attempts to get Thomson safely onboard ECOVER and the transfer took one hour and 45 minutes.
At 0:30 GMT on 23 November, HUGO BOSS and ECOVER established visual contact with each other. However, after assessing the situation the two British solo skippers decided not to carry out a transfer until first light. Thomson made sure he got plenty of rest before beginning the rescue operation and was fuelled with energy bars and fluid. He changed into his survival suit with plenty of thermals underneath, foul weather gear, gloves and a life jacket.
ECOVER maneuvered as close as possible to HUGO BOSS whilst indextaining a safe distance, whilst Thomson launched the life raft and loaded it with grab bag containing, flares, EPIRBS and fully charged VHF, together with food, emergency water and sailing gear. Once the life raft was loaded, Thomson attempted to launch a rocket line to ECOVER and boarded the raft, saying a final emotional goodbye to his yacht HUGO BOSS which has been his three year companion, his partner in the 24 hour world speed record and his home for the past four weeks at sea. He then hauled himself closer to ECOVER and eventually climbed onboard.
Alex Thomson made the following statement from onboard ECOVER:
"This has been without doubt the most terrifying and emotional experience of my life. This yacht has been my life for three years. It's wrong to leave her down here and I would have done anything to save her. But to be stranded in big seas 1000 nautical miles from land, with an irreparable keel which was swinging uncontrollably, I really had no other choice. It was very distressing to look back and see HUGO BOSS in such a sorry state. I am hugely grateful to Mike for turning back to rescue me. The operation was fairly hairy and the sea was lumpy which wasn't very pleasant for either myself or Mike. At one point I caught my hand between the life raft and ECOVER and it wasn't until this point, when I cut my hand, that I thought to myself 'this is actually quite scarey'. It took four attempts for me to board Mike's yacht, but all things considered it went very well and I am hugely relieved to be in the warmth and safety of ECOVER'S cabin."
Mike Golding will now return to full racing mode and continue sailing towards Fremantle, Australia. He has asked Alex Thomson not to assist in any way and will apply for re-dress to the race committee, meaning that ECOVER will not be penalized as a result of the rescue. Sadly this is the end of the VELUX 5 Oceans for Alex Thomson. His attention must now turn to the future and his campaign to be the first Briton to win the Vendee Globe on his new yacht which will come out of the shed in April.
Tanya Brookfield, Managing Director of Alex Thomson Racing commented: "Having worked with Alex for the last four years, I have watched him grow and develop both as an individual and as a professional racer. He has always possessed an extraordinary degree of natural talent and drive but the maturity he has demonstrated throughout not only this recent exercise, but throughout this race, has really impressed me and reminded us all of why we (his team) do what we do. His decision to abandon his pride and joy, HUGO BOSS, was gut wrenching and not reached lightly. I think the rest of us can only begin to imagine how it must have felt to look back at HUGO BOSS from the deck of ECOVER this morning and watch her slowly disappear from view. The much commented on banter and on-the-water rivalry between Mike and Alex has today been put into prospective as the two skippers breathed a sigh of relief when Alex finally boarded ECOVER and the two embraced in a manly hug.
"On behalf of Alex and the rest of the team, I would just like to thank all those of you who have texted, emailed or phoned - your support has been invaluable and has really kept us going. Now that Alex is safe onboard, the team here will scale down and try get some rest, as it's been a very long 26 hours."
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