Transat Jacques Vabre 2015: Hugo Boss out & down, Thomson & Altadill OK

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Glad sailors are OK – This is getting nasty for the IMOCA 60s. I saw this coming on the reliability of adding too much fancy ‘ouvehauling’ to these Monos, relegating their best asset which is supposedly being ‘safer’ than Multis (which stay afloat after capsized though…) and we all like development but pushing Monos to use foiling solutions is an oxymoron in my view. IMOCA 60 ‘Spirit of Hungary’ dismasted.  Hugo Boss Official Report by Transat Jacques Vabre.

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HUGO BOSS STATEMENT 1545HRS utc
Update – Emergency Situation – Alex Thomson Racing
Alex Thomson and Guillermo Altadill, skippers of yacht HUGO BOSS in the Transat Jacques Vabre set off their emergency beacon this afternoon at 13.25UT. The Spanish Coastguard was informed and sent a rescue helicopter to their location 82 nautical miles from the Spanish coast. Both Alex and Guillermo were rescued from the location by helicopter and are on their way back to land.

HUGO BOSS incurred some structural damage earlier this week forcing Alex and Guillermo to stop racing. The Skippers had made a repair and were on route to A Coruna where the technical team were waiting to meet them. After sailing for a period of 36 hours in high seas and strong winds, the structure of the boat deteriorated further and the boat started to take on water and sink. The technical team are in A Coruna, Spain awaiting further information from the coast guard.

Managing Director Stewart Hosford expresses ‘Our first concern is with Alex and Guillermo and when they are safely on the ground we will address the situation with our IMOCA 60 and begin the salvage process. We are grateful for the swift response from the rescue services in this situation.’

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