As a German I keep my fingers crossed for Boris Hermann but you are a true champion for me. I admire not only your craziness (Mast-Walk etc) but also your sailing skills and your fighting spirit! May Neptune give you a place on the podium, you already have a place in our hearts!
What a champ, I couldn't imaging having that kind of positive attitude. "engineers and designers are ABSOLUTELY sure the boat will be as strong or stronger"- I can't help but think they were ABSOLUTELY sure those plates were strong enough to begin with.
@@blackfishexpeditions307 i wouldnt count on that. having worked with cfrp i would think it has more to do with tolerances and faults in the manufacturing process. remember, carbon fiber objects are very much an artisanal work, is prone to manifacturing defects. the wrong doing in the dimensiong has been in not taking into account properly for these tolerances, that i think are even more pronounced in these application where the prepreg is not cured in autoclave
@@salmiakki5638 Good to have such expert comment. How come you aren't on Alex's team ? Hope his team back in Gosport read this. I'm sure they could learn so much !!!
@@keithw1119 am i sensing some sarcasm here? Anyway I'm not in any shape or form an expert, just sharing my 2 cents that i have from past experiences. Basically that carbon Fiber it's really hard to make and needs QA, that i guess it's pretty hard to make on a monocoque boat, and i can easily messed up. Anyway not to discredit the engineering team, they surely have all the expertise they need
That’s why I worry. Young guys with engineering degrees always either over or under engineer their work. All if that structure looks light for where it is and for what is to come. It should have been solid panels in that area. What? Save 50 lbs? Carbon is so brittle. Remember no strong conditions yet. I would double the engineers recommendation if I could.
Big credit to actually spot this damage, on dark material in a badly lit spot. It would be all too easy to do a quick visual scan after little sleep and miss such damage. Being thorough has paid off unimaginably here.
The man is one with his boat, he said he sensed it wasn't right if not felt it or heard it. That's pretty much major damage. Kinda hard not to know something big was wrong up in the bow
@@tommypetraglia4688 Alex was saying early in the race that he doesn't listen to any music as he likes to listen to the boat. I wonder if this is how he knew something was wrong?
It would grind and make noises along the hull that they are not used to, they must have heard it and searched it. And if it affects the performance looks like this guy would be able to call it without seeing the damage. But yes, being thorough is important.
@@tommypetraglia4688 That's kinda major problem with the high-tec rigid carbon boats that basically all are prototypes that are fully tested just now. It's easier to calculate rigid body stress forces, but it often makes a lot of sense to have some "give" on some parts, as long as they can safely bend back on their own. That's often what you see on normal glassfibre boats where the thin parts are actually elastic. Of course such an approach would be problematic here as any "give" in that part of the hull would let the furler/mast bend significantly, and that could be another source of potential problems. Anyway It does seem like the boats are quite fragile considering that there were already like 6 major problems in the fleet, and except one I think, the rest were most likely the result of not fully stress tested designs (especially considering that the fleet didn't yet get to the really bad sea conditions (apart from Alex and Jeremy i think, which might be partially the reason for this). It was mentioned in some video that all of the big foil design boats in the race have way more righting moment capability than is necessary to break the mast, so they're clearly constantly balancing what they can handle, but also what the boats can take, and it looks like that's a significant disadvantage to the foilers, as the classical boats simply heel a lot if their sails are overpowered which in term reduces the stress on the mast and whole rigging, while the foilers in those conditions tend to speed up more and produce more and more righting force putting more and more stress on the rigging, which is why it's so important that the competitors have to constantly change the sails to from on side not get left behind, and on the other, not over-stress the boat.
Now we know why Alex was so skinny at the start of the race - he's been training to fit through that hole!! :) Keeping fingers crossed for a successful fix, go Alex!
Thank you so much for sharing this with, so clearly too. I’m sure the whole sailing world sympathises with you and admires your resilience and determination. Bravo. 👏👏👏
Ahh Alex..what an inspiration..to go from your super up-beat Q+A on Saturday to now staying so positive showing us the extent of these repairs... a true example of grit and determination. Keep going and keep smiling.. we're all wishing you well and that you're back on course again very soon !!
“Oh Captain, my Captain” We all love you and the Adjustment n Truly strengthened bow will make for a sleek and exciting southern ocean sail. I cannot wait!
Your ability to stay positive in such a situation is nothing short of amazing and could/should be an inspiration to us all even beyond the world of sailing. Wish you the best of luck sorting out your gremlins ! 💪😉
Alex, it's unbelievable your positive attitude! It's always an inspiration for me. All of us should follow your wonderful mentality and your energy! Keep following your aim with strong and huge determination as always! All of us are with you onboard Hugo Boss! Thank you!! Francesco
You are our role model and we believe in you !!! In your abilities in your composure and in your positive attitude !!! We sent you a lot of positive energy from Greece!!! 36.25 N 25.25 E
Thanks for the update Alex. It looks like a design flaw to me, those beams should've been more heavy duty (not seeking to blame, this is cutting edge after all), but it's really great you're having this issue now, rather than in the Southern Ocean! God bless & speed you!
Its all about minimising weight , for speed more so as the bow section rides very high over the water and as it does one would have thought the stress factors must be very high on the front third of the boat , then of course as the bow returns to the water , again more punishment on that structure . for sure they would have been put through every stress test available , maybe the actual builds were faulty
Be interesting to see an FEA of this area with high forestay(?) tension, from a knockdown event, say. That 'O' shape where it's cracked symmetrically at the bottom is essentially a web, joining the top and bottom flanges of a beam (the whole boat). Concentrated loads are hard to distribute into the greater structure.
So good of Alex and his team to be so open on this issue. Really informative and they certainly know how to keep us engaged in the event. Hope you can fix it fully Alex, and get back in the hunt. The word inspirational is so over-used about people these days, but every competitor in the Vendee Globe is exactly that, and I certainly want to see all of them finish. And you to finish first, of course.
You’re a complete inspiration - already my cogs are turning to create business analogies I can use with my teams about bouncing back from ‘little’ 😉 problems, positivity, getting stuck in and pushing on. The race is long and it’s only really with yourself! ☺️ complete joy being onboard with you and even more so as you unbelievably have the time to update even while doing these repairs when we all know you just want to get straight back to being miles in front. Supporting you all he way 💪🏼
Je t'envoie plein d'énergie et des good vibes pour mener à bien ce chantier Alex ! 🙌⚡ Tu vas y arriver et ça va te booster un max pour aller prendre l'autoroute du Sud ! 💪 Plein d'admiration pour ton état d'esprit et ce que tu fais 🙏🌟
Greetings from Canada Alex!! I have to say that I was bummed out that you are having these struggles but after watching your video, it is likely more impressive that your attitude remains so positive in light of this setback than if you just “easily” sailed to victory. It is this that makes you one of the fan favourites and an inspiration to us adults and kids alike. Thank you!!
That's why we love following you, Alex. Last time with the foil, and now this, your equanimity and good humour in the face of adversity is inspiring. This, as much as your obvious skill and love for what you're doing is what makes you such a great sailor. Carry on, mate!
Alex, with this kind of attitude you are the winner already. Not many people are capable of dealing with such situations with such a tranquillity. I do hope you see George the albatross soon and take back the lead. Fingers crossed!
Don't forget to put the kettle on and make a cup of tea..... It's our solution to help fix anything!! I believe that you will be first across the finish line when its all said and done. So getting going with this repair so WE can go sailing again!!! All the best, Richard
Alex, I am following you avidly from the comfort of my armchair, and am so impressed with your positive mindset in the face of this adversity. Really hoping you can get this fixed and get going again ASAP.
Looking at that tiny access hatch, claustrophobia would have got me. Bravery personified. Best of luck Alex. Been following you for 16 years: all 5 editions you've sailed in. Last time I was gutted for you when you hit what ever you hit which stopped you beating Armel. You'll ace it this time, I'm sure.
Keep smiling Alex, We admire your calmness considering your repair will be subject to a bit of a bumpy ride in a few days time. We have our fingers crossed for a successful fix!
That positivity is absolutely inspiring! How can someone find that many positives in a situation like that? I sincerely hope you get that fixed and get back to speed in safety.
You are an absolute legend. Incredible perseverance. A lesson for everyone. Well done and good luck for a swift repair and then amazing performance thereafter!
Lots of positives in there...we're all behind you Alex. As you say you discovered the damage in a perfect part of the world ocean for making repairs. Looking forward to seeing you getting back up to speed and chasing down the leaders...Loving your positive mindset....
Amazing! This has been what has been missing from part of the stories is actually understanding what everyone is having to fix. You can start to envisage the punishment the boat and Alex have been taking. Best of luck with it!
So absolutely in awe of your positive attitude Alex and am so impressed by the many cutting edge designs and ideas incorporated into this incredible boat. That said, I have never seen a longitudinal bulkhead like this in a sailing boat before and no doubt, there will be need to be a review as to whether this structural design feature is appropriate.
Thanks Alex for the update and showing us the damages! As a mechanical engineer myself I found this update extremely interesting . Its a sad misfortune but I glad that you keep a good spirit. It is so complicated to anticipate each and every load case on such a structure and imprevisible environment. Data loging is sutch a key component in order to better predict load case in future. Its a trade of and being so close to the edge. Keep up the good work Alex
Alex- This is a champion mindset in its purist form, the will to keep going you have is incredible! Very inspiring for me and to anyone and everyone else I'm sure. Keep going!! Hope you can get back to doing what you do best asap and give the ones up front a run for their money!
Loving the fighting talk Alex. Wish we could all help fix it. Was nice seeing a Brit leading the Vendee Globe. Hopefully you can get back to the leaders. Fingers crossed on the repair.
Brave man. Good luck Alex. Looks like a very convoluted space frame and truss made of carbon fiber - held together with Epoxy resin to save weight (an oldfashioned longitudinal bulkhead with some lightening holes would have been much stronger, but also a bit heavier....Not sure why it failed in the first place - apparently Alex did not push the boat very hard earlier shortly after the start. The boat is reputedly capable of doing 40 knots but rarely went faster than 20knots- albeit in 3-5m waves....
Alex, fingers crossed that you will be able to repair the cracks and that there are no further invisibil structural issues. Your positive appreciate your attitude
You are a great example of positive attitude in adversity and keeping a cool head.A true champion. May the power of all your well wishers be with you .
That’s the spirit Alex , positive you will do an amazing job on the repair and be back in the race and giving the leaders a stiff neck from looking back to see how the hell you’re catching up so fast , best of luck with the repair
We also believe you can fix it and do a great job ! Sending you energy to complete the job well to carry you fast and safe all the way to the finish line.
I really keep my fingers crossed that you'll be able to fixed everything and make it to the end of the race. Maintain your outstanding spirit and keep on this really impressive job. I'll keep watching with sympathy....
YOU CAN DO THIS! ... I guess everybody in the fleet will face issues sooner or later ... lucky you, you got yours "sooner" in calm seas! KEEP GOING, STAY STRONG MATE!
We'll see. That much fatigue failure at this stage of the race before any extended heavy weather... will the rest hold up, nevermind the repair, which can never as stout when first laid up
As a German I keep my fingers crossed for Boris Hermann but you are a true champion for me. I admire not only your craziness (Mast-Walk etc) but also your sailing skills and your fighting spirit!
May Neptune give you a place on the podium, you already have a place in our hearts!
watch out for the germans out there Alex!!!! it wasnt too long ago they were trying to sink every boat in the Atlantic!!! haha
What a champ, I couldn't imaging having that kind of positive attitude. "engineers and designers are ABSOLUTELY sure the boat will be as strong or stronger"- I can't help but think they were ABSOLUTELY sure those plates were strong enough to begin with.
Completely agree.. fatigue material tolerance calculations. Must be re run before Southern Ocean.
@@blackfishexpeditions307 i wouldnt count on that. having worked with cfrp i would think it has more to do with tolerances and faults in the manufacturing process. remember, carbon fiber objects are very much an artisanal work, is prone to manifacturing defects. the wrong doing in the dimensiong has been in not taking into account properly for these tolerances, that i think are even more pronounced in these application where the prepreg is not cured in autoclave
@@salmiakki5638 Good to have such expert comment. How come you aren't on Alex's team ? Hope his team back in Gosport read this. I'm sure they could learn so much !!!
@@keithw1119 am i sensing some sarcasm here? Anyway I'm not in any shape or form an expert, just sharing my 2 cents that i have from past experiences. Basically that carbon Fiber it's really hard to make and needs QA, that i guess it's pretty hard to make on a monocoque boat, and i can easily messed up. Anyway not to discredit the engineering team, they surely have all the expertise they need
That’s why I worry. Young guys with engineering degrees always either over or under engineer their work. All if that structure looks light for where it is and for what is to come. It should have been solid panels in that area. What? Save 50 lbs? Carbon is so brittle. Remember no strong conditions yet. I would double the engineers recommendation if I could.
KEEP GOING MATE!
Big credit to actually spot this damage, on dark material in a badly lit spot. It would be all too easy to do a quick visual scan after little sleep and miss such damage. Being thorough has paid off unimaginably here.
The man is one with his boat, he said he sensed it wasn't right if not felt it or heard it.
That's pretty much major damage. Kinda hard not to know something big was wrong up in the bow
@@tommypetraglia4688 Good point!
@@tommypetraglia4688 Alex was saying early in the race that he doesn't listen to any music as he likes to listen to the boat. I wonder if this is how he knew something was wrong?
It would grind and make noises along the hull that they are not used to, they must have heard it and searched it. And if it affects the performance looks like this guy would be able to call it without seeing the damage. But yes, being thorough is important.
@@tommypetraglia4688 That's kinda major problem with the high-tec rigid carbon boats that basically all are prototypes that are fully tested just now.
It's easier to calculate rigid body stress forces, but it often makes a lot of sense to have some "give" on some parts, as long as they can safely bend back on their own. That's often what you see on normal glassfibre boats where the thin parts are actually elastic.
Of course such an approach would be problematic here as any "give" in that part of the hull would let the furler/mast bend significantly, and that could be another source of potential problems.
Anyway It does seem like the boats are quite fragile considering that there were already like 6 major problems in the fleet, and except one I think, the rest were most likely the result of not fully stress tested designs (especially considering that the fleet didn't yet get to the really bad sea conditions (apart from Alex and Jeremy i think, which might be partially the reason for this).
It was mentioned in some video that all of the big foil design boats in the race have way more righting moment capability than is necessary to break the mast, so they're clearly constantly balancing what they can handle, but also what the boats can take, and it looks like that's a significant disadvantage to the foilers, as the classical boats simply heel a lot if their sails are overpowered which in term reduces the stress on the mast and whole rigging, while the foilers in those conditions tend to speed up more and produce more and more righting force putting more and more stress on the rigging, which is why it's so important that the competitors have to constantly change the sails to from on side not get left behind, and on the other, not over-stress the boat.
Now we know why Alex was so skinny at the start of the race - he's been training to fit through that hole!! :) Keeping fingers crossed for a successful fix, go Alex!
Good job his food bags don’t include pies!
Guy who should be feeling the worst is telling others not to feel sad - what a champ. Rooting for you Alex 👍👍👍
That’s the spirit, never give up! 💪🏻🔝
Showing the world how to handle adversity! Brilliant! Stay strong Alex.
Shame the boats not as strong
Thank you so much for sharing this with, so clearly too. I’m sure the whole sailing world sympathises with you and admires your resilience and determination. Bravo. 👏👏👏
Ahh Alex..what an inspiration..to go from your super up-beat Q+A on Saturday to now staying so positive showing us the extent of these repairs... a true example of grit and determination. Keep going and keep smiling.. we're all wishing you well and that you're back on course again very soon !!
“Oh Captain, my Captain”
We all love you and the Adjustment n Truly strengthened bow will make for a sleek and exciting southern ocean sail.
I cannot wait!
What a hero for staying so positive. Can't wait to watch Alex and Hugo Boss fly around the southern ocean and get back the lead.
Your ability to stay positive in such a situation is nothing short of amazing and could/should be an inspiration to us all even beyond the world of sailing. Wish you the best of luck sorting out your gremlins ! 💪😉
We're all here with you Alex, stay strong
Alex, it's unbelievable your positive attitude! It's always an inspiration for me. All of us should follow your wonderful mentality and your energy! Keep following your aim with strong and huge determination as always! All of us are with you onboard Hugo Boss! Thank you!! Francesco
Bloody brilliant positive mindset Alex...unbelievable,!!!!
You really are the BOSS of dealing with adversity, Alex! This too shall pass, you got this! Stronger than before! Sending best luck wishes!!
Bon courage ça va le faire ! J’ai hâte de te voir à fond la caisse dans les mers du sud !
You are our role model and we believe in you !!! In your abilities in your composure and in your positive attitude !!! We sent you a lot of positive energy from Greece!!! 36.25 N 25.25 E
Best of luck Alex and what a great positive attitude. At least you’re still in the race.
Thanks for the update Alex. It looks like a design flaw to me, those beams should've been more heavy duty (not seeking to blame, this is cutting edge after all), but it's really great you're having this issue now, rather than in the Southern Ocean! God bless & speed you!
Its all about minimising weight , for speed more so as the bow section rides very high over the water and as it does one would have thought the stress factors must be very high on the front third of the boat , then of course as the bow returns to the water , again more punishment on that structure . for sure they would have been put through every stress test available , maybe the actual builds were faulty
Be interesting to see an FEA of this area with high forestay(?) tension, from a knockdown event, say. That 'O' shape where it's cracked symmetrically at the bottom is essentially a web, joining the top and bottom flanges of a beam (the whole boat). Concentrated loads are hard to distribute into the greater structure.
Did you deduce that because you know...it broke? Maybe you noticed something else he should reinforce while in there? LOL....
La grande classe de l'équipe Hugo boss qui ne cache rien des soucis techniques du bateau... Chapeaux bas
The skill, courage and mental & physical stamina of these sailors is something to be admired and respected.
~Major USMC Retired
So good of Alex and his team to be so open on this issue. Really informative and they certainly know how to keep us engaged in the event. Hope you can fix it fully Alex, and get back in the hunt. The word inspirational is so over-used about people these days, but every competitor in the Vendee Globe is exactly that, and I certainly want to see all of them finish. And you to finish first, of course.
Fingers crossed Alex!!🤙🏻
Great guy. Down the hatch don't forget the respirator. Good luck.
You’re a complete inspiration - already my cogs are turning to create business analogies I can use with my teams about bouncing back from ‘little’ 😉 problems, positivity, getting stuck in and pushing on. The race is long and it’s only really with yourself! ☺️ complete joy being onboard with you and even more so as you unbelievably have the time to update even while doing these repairs when we all know you just want to get straight back to being miles in front. Supporting you all he way 💪🏼
Je t'envoie plein d'énergie et des good vibes pour mener à bien ce chantier Alex ! 🙌⚡
Tu vas y arriver et ça va te booster un max pour aller prendre l'autoroute du Sud ! 💪
Plein d'admiration pour ton état d'esprit et ce que tu fais 🙏🌟
Holy shit mate, someone messed up the calculations...
Good thing they have you onboard, that should be plenty!
mind blowing
Greetings from Canada Alex!! I have to say that I was bummed out that you are having these struggles but after watching your video, it is likely more impressive that your attitude remains so positive in light of this setback than if you just “easily” sailed to victory. It is this that makes you one of the fan favourites and an inspiration to us adults and kids alike. Thank you!!
When I’m stressed I always think to myself ‘what would Alex Thomson do’ the mans a living legend...Arise Sir Alex!
That's why we love following you, Alex. Last time with the foil, and now this, your equanimity and good humour in the face of adversity is inspiring. This, as much as your obvious skill and love for what you're doing is what makes you such a great sailor. Carry on, mate!
I have absolutely no doubt in your ability to fix these problems and sail right back into the race. 👍🏻Blessings to you and the good ship “Hugo”!
Alex, with this kind of attitude you are the winner already. Not many people are capable of dealing with such situations with such a tranquillity. I do hope you see George the albatross soon and take back the lead. Fingers crossed!
Don't forget to put the kettle on and make a cup of tea..... It's our solution to help fix anything!!
I believe that you will be first across the finish line when its all said and done. So getting going with this repair so WE can go sailing again!!! All the best, Richard
KEEP ON IT ALEX, all the Merricks up here in Manchester are willing you on. Your postings are fascinating and we watch for them daily!!
Great to see you handle everything so calm and composed. It's still a long way to go. Good luck !!
Great example to anyone in the world, of how to handle when you are having a major setback. Awesome Alex!
Allez Alex! Lâche-pas le morceau, tu peux toujours gagner cette course!
Thank you for the update and stay positive, a long way to go!
Alex, I am following you avidly from the comfort of my armchair, and am so impressed with your positive mindset in the face of this adversity. Really hoping you can get this fixed and get going again ASAP.
Looking at that tiny access hatch, claustrophobia would have got me. Bravery personified. Best of luck Alex. Been following you for 16 years: all 5 editions you've sailed in. Last time I was gutted for you when you hit what ever you hit which stopped you beating Armel. You'll ace it this time, I'm sure.
Thankyou for show us your work on board to fixing stuctural damage.
Power for you!
We are waiting to see your sailboat fighting hard in the sur ocean.
Imagine the forces working on that structure! Wow, and carbon fibre is super strong.. Would like to see the repair job.
That's why people love you, Alex! "The spirit of Wales"! Keep fighting!
Sending ALL the positive vibes possible from this side of the planet to yours!
Keep smiling Alex, We admire your calmness considering your repair will be subject to a bit of a bumpy ride in a few days time. We have our fingers crossed for a successful fix!
Inspirational Alex. Great to see your upbeat spirit and that you're back sailing. Everyone's gunning for you.
That positivity is absolutely inspiring! How can someone find that many positives in a situation like that? I sincerely hope you get that fixed and get back to speed in safety.
You are an absolute legend. Incredible perseverance. A lesson for everyone. Well done and good luck for a swift repair and then amazing performance thereafter!
Such a positive attitude. Our family motto.... 'Ownwards with Optimism'
Thanks Alex and team for showing us what you are facing. Best of luck and keep up that positive spirit. 👍
Lots of positives in there...we're all behind you Alex. As you say you discovered the damage in a perfect part of the world ocean for making repairs. Looking forward to seeing you getting back up to speed and chasing down the leaders...Loving your positive mindset....
Amazing! This has been what has been missing from part of the stories is actually understanding what everyone is having to fix. You can start to envisage the punishment the boat and Alex have been taking. Best of luck with it!
Alex are you such an amazing human being and teach us all how to manage the challenges of life.........but you are exceptionally at it.......GO ALEX!
Your mindset and can-do spirit is inspirational Alex. Just glad you and the boat are safe. Best of luck mate!!!
So absolutely in awe of your positive attitude Alex and am so impressed by the many cutting edge designs and ideas incorporated into this incredible boat. That said, I have never seen a longitudinal bulkhead like this in a sailing boat before and no doubt, there will be need to be a review as to whether this structural design feature is appropriate.
Thanks Alex for the update and showing us the damages! As a mechanical engineer myself I found this update extremely interesting . Its a sad misfortune but I glad that you keep a good spirit. It is so complicated to anticipate each and every load case on such a structure and imprevisible environment. Data loging is sutch a key component in order to better predict load case in future. Its a trade of and being so close to the edge. Keep up the good work Alex
Alex- This is a champion mindset in its purist form, the will to keep going you have is incredible! Very inspiring for me and to anyone and everyone else I'm sure. Keep going!! Hope you can get back to doing what you do best asap and give the ones up front a run for their money!
Loving the fighting talk Alex. Wish we could all help fix it. Was nice seeing a Brit leading the Vendee Globe. Hopefully you can get back to the leaders. Fingers crossed on the repair.
Brave man. Good luck Alex. Looks like a very convoluted space frame and truss made of carbon fiber - held together with Epoxy resin to save weight (an oldfashioned longitudinal bulkhead with some lightening holes would have been much stronger, but also a bit heavier....Not sure why it failed in the first place - apparently Alex did not push the boat very hard earlier shortly after the start. The boat is reputedly capable of doing 40 knots but rarely went faster than 20knots- albeit in 3-5m waves....
Ha Alex
Stay positive,good to see you upbeat ! All the team here on Tenerife are rooting for you, good luck
Crushing it Alex! We are all sending positive energy here from Hawaii!!
Just shows how brutal these boats are. Great spirit, Alex. Soon be in the chase!
You got this Alex!
Stay positive Alex. We have our fingers crossed the repairs go well.
Alex, keep your positivity. You are an Inspiration to all of us. I wish you the best of luck. Jörn
Amazed by your positivity and determination, can't wait to see you back up to speed!
Great update
Thanks Alex. Makes it more of a story....triumph over adversity is what it's all about.
Alex, fingers crossed that you will be able to repair the cracks and that there are no further invisibil structural issues. Your positive appreciate your attitude
Keep going like it, you are insane, your boat is insane, we trust you and will for ever support you no matter you win it or not !
Keeping everything crossed for you Alex, unfortunate but you can do it. Your positivity is fantastic. We're all willing you on from here in France
Stay Strong Alex !!! Best wishes from France !!!
Keep the good spirit Alex. This is what makes the difference in this challenge.
Keep going Alex, so happy to see you in good spirit, it is a long race, you time will come!!
Very best wishes for a great race once the repairs are done. Go Alex, go !
Wow. Good luck with the repair Alex and team.
Good luck Alex. I look forward to the repairs being completed and to you safely heading to the Southern
Ocean under good sail.
Go for IT Alex. Vers Nice Spirit !
Amazing path so far !
Let the force be with you.
Cheers - JP - ex Withbread racer (88) long time ago....
Keep fighting Alex. A great lesson on how to handle problems! Brilliant!
Keep going Alex, you have got this mate, fix her up then full beans!
You are a great example of positive attitude in adversity and keeping a cool head.A true champion. May the power of all your well wishers be with you .
Such a brilliant attitude to problem solving. A long way to go in the race and still opportunity awaits, keep going! Following avidly
I am blown away how brave you are. great job getting your mind in the right place. from florida we are rooting for you.
That’s the spirit Alex , positive you will do an amazing job on the repair and be back in the race and giving the leaders a stiff neck from looking back to see how the hell you’re catching up so fast , best of luck with the repair
We also believe you can fix it and do a great job ! Sending you energy to complete the job well to carry you fast and safe all the way to the finish line.
Way to catch it before it became cataclysmic! We are all cheering for you!!!!! Get at it and get back in it!!!!!!
Wow this is some serious mental strenght
I really keep my fingers crossed that you'll be able to fixed everything and make it to the end of the race.
Maintain your outstanding spirit and keep on this really impressive job.
I'll keep watching with sympathy....
YOU CAN DO THIS! ... I guess everybody in the fleet will face issues sooner or later ... lucky you, you got yours "sooner" in calm seas! KEEP GOING, STAY STRONG MATE!
What an incredible example you are to all. You can do this!
Awesome job Alex!!! Hoping you'll get it fixed in a timely manner and can get back under way. There's lots of racing left!!!!!
Glad the damage isn't race ending good luck with the repair and keep your spirits up you'll soon be back in the race hunting down 1st place.
We'll see. That much fatigue failure at this stage of the race before any extended heavy weather... will the rest hold up, nevermind the repair, which can never as stout when first laid up
What an idol Alex! Truly inspirational attitude, mate! With you all the way!
Stay Strong and keep moving forward Alex!
Better to get you back safe and sound mate. Good luck with the DIY....then a quiet chat with the architect when you back.
Just found your videos (and this race) and I'm completely hooked. Stay at it m8. Best wishes and good luck from Texas!!
Alex, what an inspiration you are in the face of adversity! Every video you post is like a mini motivational speech! You rock!
Thank you for the update, Alex. Fingers crossed everything goes to plan. Best of luck to you!
Absolutely mesmerising attitude! Good luck Alex!