Mike Sanderson suffers an appendicitis

Team Sanya skipper in hospital in Alicante

During a short trip to St Tropez earlier this week, Mike Sanderson, CEO and Skipper of Team Sanya, the Chinese entry in the 2011/12 Volvo Ocean Race, suffered sudden sharp stomach pains. He managed to make the mammoth journey back to Alicante despite the pain, initially driving from St Tropez to Nice, then taking a flight from Nice to Madrid and a second flight from Madrid to Alicante whereupon he headed straight to the hospital. The doctors immediately diagnosed appendicitis and keyhole surgery was carried out without delay last night and with great success.

Mike is now recuperating in hospital and is allowed home tomorrow. He will be back on his feet as soon as possible. For sure everyone is thankful that this happened now and not after 5th November once the Volvo Ocean Race had started.

Mike's shared his thoughts this morning: "Yes it was incredibly painful and I'm not sure how I managed the trip back from France to Spain - the homing instinct set in for sure. The doctors and the hospital here in Alicante have been amazing and everything happened very quickly. I'm allowed home tomorrow and so won't be out of action for too long. Already I have the internet set up in my room and I'm running through the jobs list with Duffy as we speak! It looks marginal for me to be able to do the 600 miler 'Leg Zero' that is set to start on 7 October but I have every confidence in the guys and they can take that on no problem. I am supported by a great team and am safe in the knowledge that everything will be progressing forward just as planned and bound to be in great shape when I make it back to work 100%."