Gear Failure Forces Thomson (GBR) to Head to Shore in Velux 5 Oceans PDF Print E-mail
Copyright onEdition 2006Just 27 hours into the VELUX 5 Oceans race, British skipper Alex Thomson has experienced gear failure on HUGO BOSS. He has been forced to turn his boat round and head back to port, in order to carry out the repairs.

The incident happened at approximately 14.50 BST today when HUGO BOSS was heading upwind in 50 knots of breeze, as Alex Thomson explains:
 
“The top of the headsail started to unfurl itself in about 50 knots of breeze. I was below deck at the time and instantly realised there was a problem. As the sail started to open it knocked the boat flat and by the time I got up on deck the top of the sail had completely shredded. I am now unable to sail upwind because every time I try to do so, the sail starts to unfurl itself and knocks the boat flat again.”
 
Thomson is unhurt, but given the current conditions, it is impossible for him to continue sailing. He has therefore decided to head for Gijon, in North Spain, where he expects to arrive later this evening. When he arrives he will be met by his Shore Crew who intend to carry out a repair on the sail to enable Thomson to continue in the race.
 
“I am obviously disappointed,” says Thomson, “but I have no other option than to suspend racing in order to carry out the necessary repair and continue in the VELUX 5 Oceans. I am just glad this happened early on in the race before I was too far offshore.”

Related Items:

  1. A Top Performance by Hugo Boss in Velux 5 Oceans Prologue Race
  2. Mike Golding Retires From the Velux 5 Oceans
  3. The Ultimate Solo Challenge Begins
  4. First Night Dramas for Velux 5 Oceans Fleet
  5. Alex Thomson Teams up with Finot-Conq to Build New Hugo Boss Open 60
  6. Weather Router Jean-Yves Bernot (FRA) preps Alex Thomson (GBR) for VELUX 5 Oceans
  7. Alex Thomson (GBR) to team up with Andrew Cape (AUS) in Barcelona World Race 2007
  8. British Solo Sailors Finally Reach Cape Town Aboard ECOVER
  9. Amazing Story of Mike Golding and Alex Thomson in the Velux 5 Oceans
  10. Place Changing Opportunities Lie Ahead for Thomson
 
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