This morning (Sunday 3rd November 2019) at around 9:37am UK time, while Alex Thomson and Neal McDonald were sailing at around 25 knots onboard HUGO BOSS, they hit something in the water. At this stage, it is not clear what they hit. Following the incident, Alex and Neal stopped the boat and carried out an inspection to assess the damage sustained. It became apparent that the keel is now only attached by the hydraulic ram. Due to the damage sustained to the Read More
Alex Thomson Racing Update: Transat Jacques Vabre
Alex Thomson Racing (HUGO BOSS, IMOCA) is currently managing a developing incident which occurred during the Transat Jacques Vabre Normandie Le Havre race. We ask that members of the public, and the media, refrain from attempting to contact the team during this period. A further update will be released shortly. Read More
Transat Jacques Vabre Update: 2 November 2019
The northern pack have now reached the ridge of high pressure. The wind in this area will be very light and inconsistent. The key for all six boats in this pack - including Alex and Neal on HUGO BOSS - will be to keep moving and maintain some apparent wind because as soon as they stop, it will be hard to get going again. This will be clear when you look at the tracker. The six boats will all be pointing in slightly different angles to try to make the best Read More
Transat Jacques Vabre Update: 31 October 2019
There was a change in the weather models this morning. The impact on the routing is that the western option is not looking quite as favourable. The ridge of high pressure has moved, blocking the southerly route down to the trade winds. As you would have seen this morning on the tracker, the westerly group tacked and started heading south east towards the southern group. As a result, the westerly group have had to sacrifice some of the westerly advantage they Read More
Transat Jacques Vabre Update 29 October 2019
Alex and Neal are now committed to the western route onboard HUGO BOSS. Over the coming days, it will appear on the race tracker that the boats which took the southerly course are further ahead, ticking more miles off towards the finish line. However if we consider the long term effect in the Atlantic, when we look at the weather models the boats to the south could face light upwind conditions over the next 2-3 days, making it harder for them to punch through Read More
Transat Jacques Vabre Update 28 October 2019
Alex and Neal have got off to a good start. In our upwind leg towards the mark on day one, we seemed to struggle with performance so we lost some miles. But it was interesting to see HUGO BOSS sail upwind against the other boats. This is the first time we've had the opportunity to do that so it's given us a good understanding of where we are and what work we have to do. After rounding the windward mark, Alex and Neal had a great night. They were Read More
Alex Thomson and Co-Skipper Neal McDonald set sail in Transat Jacques Vabre
British sailor Alex Thomson today began the Transat Jacques Vabre Normandie Le Havre, his debut race onboard the new HUGO BOSS racing yacht. Thomson and his co-skipper – fellow Briton Neal McDonald – departed from Le Havre, France this afternoon to begin the double-handed 4,350mile race, which finishes in Salvador, Brazil. In what is the 14th edition of the classic offshore race, a record 29 yachts within the IMOCA class will compete, each looking to finish on Read More
Alex Thomson Racing announces departure of CEO Stewart Hosford
Alex Thomson Racing has announced that CEO, Stewart Hosford, will depart the company on Friday 18th October 2019. Hosford, who joined the business in 2010, has been instrumental in some of the ocean racing team’s greatest successes both on and off the water. During his tenure the team celebrated the renewal of its title partnership with HUGO BOSS, as well as the formation of its ground-breaking technology partnership with Nokia Bell Labs. Hosford also played Read More
Zhik joins Alex Thomson Racing as Official Technical Clothing Supplier
Marine apparel brand, Zhik, has joined Alex Thomson Racing as Official Technical Clothing Supplier. The announcement comes as the ocean racing team celebrates the official launch of its new HUGO BOSS boat, marking the beginning of the team’s journey to the 2020 Vendée Glove round the world race. Since breaking into the market with its game changing wetsuits for athletes in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Zhik has sought to truly change the face of Read More
Alex Thomson Racing’s new HUGO BOSS yacht is officially christened in London by British model and actress Poppy Delevingne
The new HUGO BOSS boat, set to be raced by British sailor Alex Thomson, launched last night at an official christening ceremony on The River Thames in London. The yacht sailed publicly in front of London’s iconic Tower Bridge, before being officially christened by British model and actress Poppy Delevingne in front of special guests in attendance. The IMOCA 60 racing boat was designed and built in a partnership comprising of the Alex Thomson Racing Read More