Alex Thomson Racing update: ‘nerve-wracking’

Watch this fascinating update in which Alex Thomson and Neal McDonald recount the moment that the HUGO BOSS boat hit an unidentified object submerged in the water and they were forced to free the keel from the boat, during the Transat Jacques Vabre Normandie Le Havre race.

Ross Daniel, Technical Director at Alex Thomson Racing, says: “Together with Alex and Neal, our technical team has been evaluating a number of different options. The decision has been made that the safest course of action is for the skippers to sail to the Cape Verde Islands, around 800nm away from HUGO BOSS’ current location.

“Alex and Neal are currently sailing at up to 7 knots in light winds. They will continue to sail cautiously in a south easterly direction to the Verde Islands. With the current weather conditions, we estimate that the journey will take around five days.

“We are in constant dialogue with Alex and Neal onboard, and are continuing to closely monitor the boat’s status. Our technical team is preparing to meet HUGO BOSS in the coming days, in order to offer assistance to Alex and Neal in bringing the boat safely into port.

“The safety of our skippers, and that of the boat, remains our number one priority”.