Not a day full of good news I am afraid...
At 19.45 GMT on Monday 10th November Alex Thomson turned HUGO BOSS around to head back to Les Sables d'Olonne following the discovery of a crack in the port side hull.
On inspection at daylight the crack is located between the aft keelbox and bulkhead.
Only a small amount of water is being taken onboard, water is squirting through the crack as the boat flexes and is completely manageable. Alex is currently bailing out every three hours.
HUGO BOSS is currently sailing downwind back to Les Sables d'Olonne under main and headsail only.
HUGO BOSS is expected to arrive in Les Sables d'Olonne early morning on Wednesday the 12th November.
At 1330 GMT HUGO BOSS was 122 miles off Les Sables d'Olonne, making about 9.5 knots.
Alex is understandably gutted, he was lying in 9th place when he was forced to turn HUGO BOSS around.
I also hear that there have been a couple of very nasty incidents in Venezuela. In one a cruiser was shot dead and another seriously wounded when they were attacked on their boat just outside Puerto La Cruz. Another cruiser was killed in the anchorage at Porlamar, Isla Margarita when their dinghy was hit by a panga.
Details seem sketchy but will no doubt become clearer in time.
On a brighter note the weather is looking good and more boats are leaving. Everytime I see one sliding down the river or casting off their docklines my heart gives a little leap...wish it was me!
TBH soothes my fevered brow and assures me it'll be our turn again soon, I hope so!
Still patience is a virtue!
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