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Alex Thomson's incredible repairs (VIDEO)

Articles | Monday 19 November 2012, 14:55

In this 13-minute video, Alex Thomson shows how he managed to repair the broken rudder tie bar of HUGO BOSS while sailing at 18 knots.

Comments 28

L'incroyable réparation d'Alex Thomson par VendeeGlobeTV

Comments 28

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svolkmann - 22.11.12 12:35 Report abuse

Alex, that was totally cool. And educational. Totally hard core, and to do that at full speed. Really, well done! I'm officially impressed! I share the sentiment of another supporter. You adapted, improvised and overcame the unfortunate challenge. and you kept it together. That's an example of a true professional! I pray that it holds together for the rest of the race. Thanks for sharing the video. It's everything to those of us "sailing" the race from our desks.

bagginsatsea - 20.11.12 15:15 Report abuse

Brilliant - just brilliant

Christopher Lynch - 20.11.12 14:13 Report abuse

Great job! Adaptation and improvisation are the ways of Champions!

trawlerman128 - 20.11.12 13:23 Report abuse

Well done with the repair, your patience and attitude over the mishap surely deserve it to last the course. KBS (Trawlerman's language for "Keep the Blighter (or stronger beginning with B) Straight."

Infla Deus - 20.11.12 10:59 Report abuse

What a patient and precise work! Nicely done! Good wind!

SPA - 20.11.12 09:37 Report abuse

Hope the repair stands the tests to come after all that hard work

cam@momijihq.com - 20.11.12 07:24 Report abuse

Now don't drop it over the back Alex!

kerryt - 20.11.12 02:47 Report abuse

Now that's a very serious sailor/boat driver!! Championship task on the open ocean. Adapt and overcome. Well done sir, well done!! Hope the welds hold through So ocean. Good Luck, God Speed.

kerryt - 20.11.12 02:46 Report abuse

Now that's a very serious sailor/boat driver!! Championship task on the open ocean. Adapt and overcome. Well done sir, well done!! Hope the welds hold through So ocean. Good Luck, God Speed.

FullFoil - 20.11.12 02:37 Report abuse

Bloody brilliant. Amazing to watch the water streaming behind the boat at 20 kts, while grinding out strips of carbon. It's pain in the rear enough doing this kind of work in a shop (been there, done that), and watching it done in the middle of the ocean... wow. Hat's off to you, and wishing all the best to keeping her going through the rest of the race.

AGaldes - 20.11.12 01:52 Report abuse

Sounds like you would kill for a little extra wall thickness. Well good thing you have some expoxy and carbon fibre. Oh and some nice plastic gloves!! Great job Alex. Keep up the great job.

andy anderson - 20.11.12 01:05 Report abuse

Fantastic show skipper...you've been our favorite to win since the start. I'll go with a proven boat/skipper combo any day. Hugo may have a few miles on him but I think he's faster than you're letting on. Well done Sir. Andy

andy anderson - 20.11.12 00:56 Report abuse

Top Class - 19.11.12 23:55 Report abuse

I think I should keep my suggestions to myself? in a previous comment I said keep grinding in terms of keeping up with the leaders. Great tenacity, application and commitement. Great sailing versus the new generation yachts. Cheers. Top Class

Your username** - 19.11.12 23:54 Report abuse

Well done Alex! Good Luck.

John Pugh - 19.11.12 23:22 Report abuse

Well done Alex, with a bit of luck it will hold. You are an inspiration to all watching. Keep going my friend. We are with you all the way.

The engineer - 19.11.12 22:36 Report abuse

Wow, there is a lot of fans around. Hate to spoil the good atmosphere. This repair is not going to make it. The carbon bars which are simply glued on will fall off. No fibers or rope filaments (in combination with epoxy)were used to wrap AROUND the broken pipe section.

Nils - 19.11.12 20:04 Report abuse

Alex, you made my day. Wonderful show for all the DIY-guys beneath us. Good luck with the thing.

dgrogan - 19.11.12 19:30 Report abuse

What a legend. Impressive sushi making skills there, Alex. Brilliant work. Good sailing.

VirtualYapton - 19.11.12 18:24 Report abuse

I've seen the Master Chefs roll up something like that in clingfilm, but they don't do camara directing and use an unstable worktop travelling at 20kts. I was anticipating a kink in the final result, but no - a great job. Back to installing a new kitchen rollablind, full of confidence.

Kate - 19.11.12 17:57 Report abuse

As I said earlier amazing Alex,I know what its like trying to do a fix similar on dry land, so on the seas fantastic job... Now you can get back to the job in hand. It WILL hold... Well done.and Thank you for the vid... As always take care and be safe Granny Kate uk

Louise Oram - 19.11.12 17:51 Report abuse

Well done on your progress so far in the Vendee. Great stuff with the repair to the rudder tie bar and still managing to keep up the front pack. Hope the passage through the Dodrums is good to you.

olga - 19.11.12 17:23 Report abuse

Great choice of location for the repair to be cradled in to keep all straight. Well thought out ...even had your tapes cut ahead.

Abby Thomson - 19.11.12 17:07 Report abuse

Blue Peter eat your heart out! Really great video. Big love to Cliff and Ross too. What a team xx

hershawe - 19.11.12 17:03 Report abuse

great clea job Alex, epoxies messy sticky stuff. mixing my epoxy and making a layup on my windsurf kit is still inferior to your skill, and i do it inside at 22 celcius room temp, whilst music is playing and coffee is on hand.

Roger Evans - 19.11.12 16:47 Report abuse

Alex I've been following you, Mike and Sam. I've just watched your video of you repairing the rudder tie bar - while sailing at 20 knts! It just makes you realise what diverse skill sets you VG sailors have - positively inspirational. Find a quick way through the doldrums and keep on keeping going. May the wind gods be with you.

Dean Hubbard - 19.11.12 16:13 Report abuse

Thanks so much for showing this! Those of us at home are eager to see exactly how a potentially serious problem is solved at sea. Reading about it in one sentence in a daily report doesn't tell us all we really want to know and to see, if possible. Since I am one of the Samantha fans looking for a new skipper to follow closely, after enjoying your little band aid application, you get my vote, buddy.

BaySailor - 19.11.12 15:20 Report abuse

Alex, sorry to see that you had such problems with your tie bar. I have to say you and your team have done a marvelous job with the repair. The video was interesting to watch and how difficult that must have been to be steady on the pitching cockpit floor. Cheers to you mate. We are watching and hoping your 'old' boat stays with and passes the new upstarts. Best of luck with a fast passage through the Doldrums. Be safe and enjoy this great adventure you are having and we are enjoying along with you.

Quotes from the ninth radio vac

A message from Bertrand de Broc