PARIS - Vendee Globe leader Alex Thomson's boat was damaged and the Welsh sailor taken by surprise by "an almighty bang" after hitting a submerged object in the South Atlantic on Saturday. "I was averaging 24 knots when I heard an almighty bang and the boat stopped and turned to starboard by about 20 degrees," he recounted. The scare has forced Thomson to ease up until conditions relent so he can carry out a thorough inspection of his boat. Vendee Globe standings at 1800GMT1. Alex Thomson (GBR/Hugo Boss) at 19,805.8 nautical miles from the finish2.

Source: Bangkok Post November 19, 2016 19:47 UTC