Thomson was second in the inaugural Barcelona World Race in 2007-8

Britain's Alex Thomson has been allowed to field a stand-in in the opening stages of the Barcelona World Race after having his appendix removed.

Race organisers have allowed Wouter Verbraak to sail with Thomson's partner Andy Meiklejohn until the 36-year-old has recovered from emergency surgery.

"I'm thrilled to be taking part in the race after such a devastating setback so close to the start," said Thomson.

"I'm lucky to have a talented skipper such as Wouter on standby."

Dutchman Verbaak is a hugely experienced sailor and navigator who has competed in the 2008-09 Volvo Ocean Race (VOR) for Team Russia and Navigator in 2009 VOR for Delta Lloyd.

Thomson complained of stomach pain on Tuesday afternoon and underwent surgery within two hours of being admitted to a Barcelona clinic on Wednesday morning.

"It is thanks to Alex's fast acting team and medical staff for ensuring his symptoms were diagnosed so quickly and an operation performed immediately," said team boss Stewart Hosford.

"Had it not been detected and Alex had started the race, the consequences of this could well have been fatal. He is now recovering and whilst bitterly disappointed about not being at the start, he is in good spirits as he looks forward to joining Andy as soon as possible.

"We are very fortunate to have substitute skipper Wouter stepping in for Alex. Wouter has worked with our team for some time and is well known and trusted by both Alex and Andy."

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Thomson made his mark in ocean racing at the age of 25 when he became the youngest skipper ever to win a round-the-world race - the Clipper Race 1998/99.

In the first edition of the Barcelona World Race in 2007-8, Thomson and co-skipper Andrew Cape set a new monohull world speed record, covering 501.3 nautical miles (576 miles, 928km) in 24 hours in a previous version of his Hugo Boss yacht.

The pair went on to finish second of the nine competing boats behind Frenchman Jean-Pierre Dick and Ireland's Damian Foxall.

Later in 2008, Thomson was one of the favourites in the single-handed Vendee Globe non-stop around-the-world race - in which Dame Ellen MacArthur made her name by finishing second in 2001 - despite facing a race against time to make the start line.

His Hugo Boss yacht was struck by a French fishing vessel on the delivery trip to Les Sables d'Olonnes three weeks before the start and his shore crew worked around the clock to make repairs.

But just three days in, Thomson discovered the boat was leaking and he was forced to abandon the race.

On his debut in the Vendee Globe in 2004, Thomson was forced to retire early on with damage to his yacht.

His boat also lost its keel in the Southern Ocean during the 2006 Velux Five Oceans around-the-world race and he was rescued by fellow Briton Mike Golding.

The 25,000 nautical mile (46,300km) Barcelona World Race begins in Spain on 31 December and takes an easterly route around the world, passing to the south of the Cape of Good Hope, Australia and Cape Horn, with a diversion through the Cook Strait between the North and South Islands of New Zealand.

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