After many efforts to stabilise the keel of the Hugo Boss IMOCA boat, Alex Thomson and Neal McDonald finally decided to part with it. After a little rest, the two skippers realised that keeping the IMOCA keel in place was endangering the integrity of the boat. The keel was only held by its hydraulic cylinder and was very unstable, and could cause serious damage to the hull.
With the help of their shore crew, and after several hours of effort, Alex Thomson and Neal McDonald finally managed to cast off Hugo Boss's keel. In an attempt to keep the 60-foot monohull as straight as possible and to stabilise it, the two sailors filled the ballast tanks and deployed the foils. Fortunately, they are sailing in calm seas with a light wind and the conditions do not present any danger for the men or the boat for the moment.
After studying several options - the first was to reach the Canaries - the shore team in agreement with the sailors decided that the safest solution for the skippers was to go to Cape Verde, about 800 miles from Hugo Boss' current position.
The boat is currently making headway at a maximum of 7 knots in an evanescent wind. They will continue to sail with the utmost caution as far as Cape Verde, a journey which in the current conditions should last around 5 days.
The two skippers are in regular contact with the shore team, which is about to join the boat in the near future to enable it to reach the port in complete safety.
