Mike Golding turns back to rescue Alex Thomson

by Kate Fairclough on 24 Nov 2006
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 an interim solution to hold the keel locked in the middle, but it is just not reliable enough for him to risk continuing in the VELUX 5 Oceans yacht race. Alex is very tired, shocked 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.'

Alex Thomson explained what happened:

'I was in my bunk grabbing a quick power kip when I was suddenly thrown across the cabin as the boat broached. I ran up on deck and went to ease the mainsail but nothing happened. I then went to try and cant the keel, but again nothing happened. By this stage the boat was leaning right over on its side with the spreaders in the water, so I went back down below to look inside the keel box. . . . . .

The structure which attaches the rams to the keel had completely snapped off, allowing the 3.6 tonne keel bulb to swing around freely, but staying to leeward effectively pinning HUGO BOSS on her side. I went back up on deck and took all of the sails down, then finally the boat righted itself.'

'I can’t believe it, I am absolutely gutted. I have learnt so much already in this race about how hard to push the boat and when to hold back, in order to maintain the right balance between speed and safety. I was just one nautical mile from second placed Mike Golding when the incident happened, sailing under reduced sail area in order to avoid over-powering the boat. To have such a severe mechanical problem with my keel at this critical stage in the race, something which I have no control over, is absolutely devastating. If there was anyway that I could continue in the race then I would, but I have no option other than to abandon ship. I am very grateful for the support from Mike and Koji.

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.