Please select your home edition
Edition
Selden 2020 - LEADERBOARD

Alex Thomson ceases racing in the Vendée Globe

by Alex Thomson Racing 28 Nov 2020 06:38 PST 28 November 2020
British yachtsman Alex Thomson, skipper of 'HugoBoss' leaves Gosport for the start of the Vendée Globe © Mark Lloyd / www.lloydimages.com

After incurring damage to the starboard rudder of his boat, British sailor Alex Thomson has ceased racing in the Vendée Globe and is now sailing his boat towards Cape Town.

Thomson last night disconnected the starboard rudder and has since been sailing the yacht with just one rudder. After assessing the situation today, the skipper and his team have decided that the only course of action is to cease racing and sail the boat to Cape Town.

Thomson said: "Unfortunately, a repair is not possible. We therefore accept that this will be the end of the race for us. Myself, my team and our partners are of course deeply disappointed. We believe the best was yet to come in this race".

The incident occurred on what was Thomson's 19th day of racing in the round-the-world Vendée Globe yacht race, which began on Sunday 8th November from Les Sables-d'Olonne on France's west coast.

Alex Thomson is currently approximately 1,800 nautical miles from Cape Town and it is expected to take the skipper around seven days to make the journey. He'll do so without the use of his starboard rudder and so will proceed safely and cautiously. Thomson's technical team will travel to Cape Town to meet the yacht upon arrival.

Related Articles

Vendée Globe Press Release
With reference to Clarisse Crémer's Rule 69.2 Hearing Hearing under Rule 69.2 of the Racing Rules of Sailing on Saturday 2nd March, starting at 11:00. Posted on 4 Mar
Conrad Colman updates on Vendee Globe entry
Conrad Colman's Vendee Globe race yacht will use electricity only - no fossil fuels French/New Zealand sailor Conrad Colman, who will always be remembered for his epic finish to the 2016/17 Vendee Globe, is going again. The latest attempt will again be aimed at sailing using electricity only - no fossil fuels - and an electric engine. Posted on 9 Feb
10 environmental commitments for the Vendée Globe
The approach is part of a long-term perspective, divided into four key pillars In the run-up to the 10th edition of the solo, non-stop, non-assisted round the world race, the Vendée Globe is affirming its environmental commitments. Posted on 7 Feb
New York Vendée - Les Sables d'Olonne preview
A record 31 skippers will be setting off across the Atlantic in May While the IMOCA are in winter refit, the organisers of the Vendée Globe are unveiling the details and line-up of their transatlantic race, the New York Vendée - Les Sables d'Olonne, which will start off the coast of the United States Posted on 24 Jan
D-366, the countdown is on - Vendée Globe 2024
On 10 November 2024, the Vendée Globe skippers will set off on the 10th edition On 10 November 2024, the Vendée Globe skippers will set off on the 10th edition of the non-stop, non-assisted, single-handed round-the-world race. Posted on 10 Nov 2023
Transat Jacques Vabre, what's the stake for the VG
The first Transat Jacques Vabre set off from Le Havre Four years after the very first edition of the Vendée Globe in 1989, the first Transat Jacques Vabre set off from Le Havre. Posted on 23 Oct 2023
44 candidates for the Vendée Globe 2024
The diversity of candidates makes the race so exciting! The Vendée Globe has never been so attractive. For the 10th edition of the non-stop, non-assisted, single-handed round the world race, 44 skippers have applied. A record. Posted on 12 Oct 2023
"I still think about Vendée Globe all the time"
British yachtsman Mike Golding is back on an IMOCA Ten years after he raced his last Vendée Globe, finishing sixth, British yachtsman Mike Golding is back on an IMOCA, making ready to compete on the upcoming Transat Jacques Vabre, and says he'd still love to do a fifth Vendée Globe. Posted on 23 Sep 2023
New York Vendée Les Sables d'Olonne 2024
The final confrontation before the Vendée Globe On Thursday 6 July, the organisers of the famous non-stop, non-assisted, single-handed round the world race revealed the Notice of Race for their transatlantic, the New York Vendée - Les Sables d'Olonne. Posted on 7 Jul 2023
You can't learn solo sailing on your own!
The future skippers of the Vendée Globe are starting their season in France While five IMOCA boats are currently competing in a crewed race, The Ocean Race, the season was launched in France with the double-handed Guyader Bermuda 1000 Race. Posted on 18 Jun 2023
North Sails Performance 2023 - FOOTERLloyd Stevenson - Artnautica60 728x90px BOTTOMHenri-Lloyd - For the Obsessed