24.11.2006, 10:00
SUCCESS FOR SOUTHERN OCEAN RESCUE IN VELUX 5 OCEANS
Alex Thomson and Mike Golding safe and well as HUGO BOSS abandoned
At approximately 0635 GMT this morning, Mike Golding completed the
successful rescue of Alex Thomson. Both the British skippers are now
safe and well onboard ECOVER following a tense two hour rescue at first
light this morning, close to 850 miles south of South Africa. The
dramatic rescue was a text book operation, especially given the harsh
and challenging conditions present in the Southern Ocean. The success of
the rescue is a testament to the professionalism and bravery of both
skippers, as they completed the rescue in winds over 25 knots and large
seas. The vastly experienced solo skipper Golding, who is on his sixth
global circumnavigation, described the crucial minutes of the rescue as
'very scary at times."
Just after 0300 GMT, when sunrise came to the desolate expanse of ocean,
Alex Thomson, onboard his stricken Open 60 HUGO BOSS, began motoring
towards Mike Golding's Open 60, ECOVER. Golding, who made contact last
night with Thomson, had spent the night monitoring Alex's safety and
keeping a safe distance. At approximately 0500 GMT, Alex Thomson,
wearing his survival suit, was ready to deploy his life raft, which he
would use to transport himself and a few key belongings over to ECOVER.
The difficult conditions meant that Thomson had to drift a safe distance
from HUGO BOSS before ECOVER could move in to pick up the young skipper.
It took four attempts to get Thomson onboard ECOVER due to the sea state
and engine problems for Golding.
ECOVER will now turn back towards Fremantle and focus again on Leg 1 of
the VELUX 5 OCEANS. Golding, who had been setting an impressive pace in
second place before turning back to assist HUGO BOSS, will receive
re-dress for his heroic actions so that he is not penalized or
negatively impacted for assisting a fellow competitor in a time of
crisis.
The abandonment of HUGO BOSS marks the devastating end of the dream for
Alex Thomson in his attempt to win the Ultimate Solo Challenge.
ALERT: VELUX 5 OCEANS AUDIO INTERVIEWS / RADIO VACATIONS
Following a dramatic night at sea, listen and talk to the skippers
participating in the VELUX 5 OCEANS, the Ultimate Solo Challenge
At 10:00 UK / 11:00 Europe, the VELUX 5 OCEANS will be attempting to
talk to the following skippers direct as they take on leg 1 from Bilbao
to Fremantle:
1. MIKE GOLDING, ECOVER - with ALEX THOMSON
2. SIR ROBIN KNOX-JOHNSTON, SAGA INSURANCE
3. KOJIRO SHIRAISHI, SPIRIT OF YUKOH (Japanese Interview)
Media have the opportunity to dial into the conference call on the
numbers given below and will be offered the chance to ask questions
directly to the skippers (by pushing *1 on the telephone keypad),
depending on time available and a successful connection to the skippers.
A recording of the interviews will be available from the website and via
the media team following the call.
LOCAL DIAL-IN NUMBERS FOR MEDIA AND PARTICIPANTS:
UK: +44 (0)20 7138 0808
France: +33 (0)1 70 99 42 75
Spain: +34 91 453 3434
USA: +1 718 354 1158
Japan: +81 (0)3 3570 8242
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