British Skipper Alex Thomson, onboard his IMOCA 60, is on the final leg of the Ocean Masters New York to Vendée Race.
Thomson experienced difficulties earlier in the race with the autopilot system onboard. In order to make the necessary repairs, he had to slow the racing yacht, HUGO BOSS, and sail under mainsail alone.
Thomson is now sailing at maximum speed and currently under full sail, as the wind speeds dropped overnight. The skipper lies in third position this morning, but is closing the gap with only 40 nautical miles between himself and his rivals Maitre Coq and Edmond de Rothschild.
Due to the extreme weather conditions onboard, Thomson had only managed to get 7-8 hours’ sleep by Friday morning. The decrease in the wind speed, however, allowed him to get some rest over the weekend and he is now sailing at his optimum speed as he crosses the Bay of Biscay and fights to be the first IMOCA 60 to cross the finish line.
Thomson says ‘It has been good to recharge the batteries and we are now back up to speed. It was not particularly nice onboard with a consistent 40 knots of wind over the weekend. The G force onboard is ridiculous and it was stressful having to fix the autopilot Thursday night. My current position is where I ended up with my autopilot problem, which is why I am slightly further north and suffered an 80 mile loss on Thursday night. My spirits are high, feeling good, boat going fast, what could be better!’
Gleistein Ropes is one of the world’s leading rope manufacturers. Founded in 1824 as a supplier for the vast north German shipping industry, the Gleistein group today provides premium solutions across a broad range of sectors.
Founded in 2004, Oceanvolt is a leading manufacturer of clean electric power and propulsion systems for boats.
Rich Energy is a premium British energy drink.
Founded in 2000, Dream Yacht Charter is a world leader in yacht chartering.
Alex Thomson Racing today added Exposure Lights to the list of specialist suppliers that it will partner with in the lead up to the 2020-21 Vendée Globe.
Base Camp Food has the UK’s widest range of lightweight meals, designed for all outdoor adventures.
UBI MAIOR ITALIA designs and produces first-class sailing deck equipment according to exceptionally high quality standards. The company combines the newest production techniques with time-tested traditions, and the experience of highly skilled professionals who have made their passion for sailing into a life’s work.
Created in 2004 by Marin Clausin, Karver Systems specialise in deck hardware. Headquartered in Honfleur, France but with a network worldwide, the business has developed a reputation for its commitment to technological performance and use of robust, ultra-resistant materials.
Raymarine is a FLIR Systems brand. Founded in 1978, FLIR Systems is a world-leading industrial technology company focused on intelligent sensing solutions for defense, industrial, and commercial applications. FLIR Systems’ vision is to be “The World’s Sixth Sense,” creating technologies to help professionals make more informed decisions that save lives and livelihoods.
Gochermann Solar Technology is a manufacturer of custom solar arrays with very special features required in solar race events such as the Australian World Solar Challenge and other events around the globe, powering cars, boats and airplanes. The company’s lightweight solar arrays meet and exceed all requirements with respect to optical, mechanical, and electrical properties.