Alex Thomson in bid to rejoin Hugo Boss

(Justin Leighton)

While appendix surgery just 48 hours before hoping to start the Barcelona doublehanded non-stop round the world race has allowed Alex Thomson to be in on the birth of son Oscar with partner Kate, he is now in a race to rejoin the yacht, Hugo Boss.

The Open 60 is lying last of the 14 which started on New Year’s Eve with Wouter Verbraak as substitute skipper alongside Andy Meiklejohn. The swap, which could take place in the Azores, needs to be organised by Monday.

The race is still led by defending titleholder Jean-Pierre Dick, this time sailing with Loick Peyron, followed by Michel Desjoyeaux and Francois Gabart with the Swiss pairing of Dominique Wavre and Michelle Paret third.

The Anglo-Spanish all-woman duo of Dee Caffari and Anna Corbella is ninth.