Alex Thomson
British skipper Alex Thomson is a major talent in international yacht racing. Competing in the high-speed, extreme IMOCA 60 class, Alex has been sponsored by HUGO BOSS since 2003, making their relationship one of the longest and most coveted in sailing and sports sponsorship history.
2012 will see Alex attempt to be the first Briton ever to win the ultimate offshore yacht race: the solo, unassisted, non-stop round-the-world Vendee Globe, which starts on 10th November 2012 in Les Sables-d’Olonne, France.
The background:
- Date of birth: 18th April 1974
- Place of birth: Bangor, North Wales
- Lives: Gosport, Hampshire
- Sailing experience: 20 years
- Sponsor: HUGO BOSS
- Yacht: IMOCA 60 HUGO BOSS
- Sail number: GBR99
- Next event: Vendée Globe, 7th edition, 10/11/12
The story so far
- Dec 2011: 5th across the line (5 crew) in the 2011 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race.
- Dec 2011: 4th place finish in the Transat B to B (single-handed).
- Nov 2011: 2nd place finish in the Transat Jacques Vabre (double-handed with Guillermo Altadill). Jan 2011: Alex retired from Barcelona World Race when his new-born son was diagnosed with a heart complaint.
- Nov 2008: Alex forced to retire from the Vendée Globe, 6th edition, after his boat was struck by a fishing vessel.
- Feb 2008: 2nd place finish in the Barcelona World Race (double-handed with Andrew Cape). Dec 2007: Alex broke his own 24 hour distance record by sailing 501 nautical miles at an average speed of 20.9kts.
- 2006: Alex forced to retire from the Velux 5 Oceans Race due to structural damage. He was rescued at sea by fellow British competitor Mike Golding.
- 2004: Alex forced to retire from the Vendée Globe, 5th edition, due to structural damage. 2003: Alex set 24 hour speed distance world record by sailing 468 nautical miles at an average speed of 19.5kts.
- 1999: At 25, Alex became the youngest ever skipper to win a round-the-world race – Clipper 98-99.
What lies ahead:
The Vendée Globe is a non-stop, solo, unassisted round-the-world yacht race. The race was founded by Philippe Jeantot in 1989 and now takes place every four years, starting and finishing in Les Sables-d’Olonne on France’s west coast.
The Vendée Globe is the only race of its kind. Regarded as the ‘Everest’ of offshore yacht racing, it represents a true test of human endurance; a 23,000 mile, 3 month-long battle against the elements. Currently only 50% of attempts to complete the race have been successful.
