HAMPSHIRE sailor Alex Thomson's hopes of competing in a non-stop round the world race were lifted today less than 24 hours before the start.

His Hugo Boss sailing team has asked race organisers to allow a temporary substitute skipper to replace him at the start of the non-stop Barcelona World Race.

Thomson, 36, from Gosport, was due to start the two-handed race in Barcelona tomorrow with New Zealander Andy Meiklejohn as his co-skipper.

But yesterday he had to undergo emergency surgery to remove his appendix, placing a question mark over his involvement in the 25,000-mile race on board his 60ft boat Hugo Boss.

If the proposal for a temporary substitute is accepted, it would enable Thomson to join the rest of the fleet when he has fully recovered from his surgery.

A decision on whether the suggestion is acceptable is expected to be made by the race organisers tonight, just hours before the race begins.

In a statement, the Hugo Boss sailing team said: ''If the request is approved then skipper Alex Thomson would join the boat after he receives medical clearance to take part in the race.''

Stewart Hosford, chief executive officer of Alex Thomson Racing, said last night he thought it was ''highly improbable'' he would be starting the race.

He added that he was happy Thomson underwent surgery now rather than fall ill part-way through the race. ''That could have been very, very serious,'' he said.

Thomson's role in the race was already in question because his girlfriend, Kate Denham, is due to give birth to their first child on January 4.

Doctors at the Teknon clinic in Barcelona said he was in ''good spirits'' and was recovering well from the operation.

Thomson has pedigree in the race after coming second in 2008.

The other British entry in the 14-strong top-class fleet is record-breaking yachtswoman Dee Caffari.

The 37-year-old from Titchfield has teamed up with the relatively inexperienced Spanish sailor Anna Corbella to make up the race's only all-female entry.

''It's suddenly made it a daunting task having so many top quality sailors starting,'' said Caffari.

''But we know from previous races that 14 may start but 14 do not necessarily cross the finish line, so we are going to try and keep up, but you have to be realistic.''

Caffari is the only woman to have sailed around the world non-stop and single-handedly, both with and against the prevailing winds and currents.

The Barcelona World Race is the only double-handed race around the globe and sails around the three Capes: Good Hope, Leeuwin and the Horn.

The surviving yachts are due back in Barcelona in early March.