‘I will do whatever it takes to stay in the race’ – Vendee Globe sailor Alex Thomson

The Gosport-based sailor was busy yesterday making a series of repairs to his £5.5m Hugo Boss after discovering the problem on Saturday evening.

In a video update, he said the damage was ‘fairly significant’ but remained ‘super confident’ he could do the necessary repairs to stay in the solo round the world race.

‘That’s why we carry so many materials on board, to fix these kind of things,’ he said.

‘The engineers are confident the boat will be as strong - if not stronger - than before.’

Thomson, who had been leading the race, added: ‘I’m disappointed obviously but this is the Vendée Globe. This is what it entails.

‘You’ve got to be able to deal with this stuff.

‘Normally I feel angry and sad and emotional but I don’t this time. I just need to get on with it.

‘I’m sure at some point the emotions may go the other way but, for now, there is only one thing to do and that is to get the job done as best as I possibly can.

‘I will do whatever it takes to stay in the race.’

As of this evening, Thomson – aiming to become the first ever non-French winner of the Vendee Globe - was down in fifth place, around 383 nautical miles adrift of leader Charlie Dalin.

Portsmouth-born Samantha Davies was 10th, around 489 nautical miles adrift of the leader.