Alex Thomson (sailor)

Alex Thomson at the start of the Vendée Globe 2016/2017

Alex Thomson (born April 18, 1974 in Bangor , Wales ) is a British sailor . At the age of 25, Alex Thomson won the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race in 1998/1999, making him the youngest winner of a circumnavigation of the world in sailing. On 15./16. January 2017 Thomson set a new world record for single-handed sailors within 24 hours, scoring 536.8 nautical miles at the Vendée Globe .

biography

Alex Thomson was born in North Wales to an air-to-sea rescue helicopter pilot . He has a twin sister and a younger brother. Alex showed talent on the water at an early age, was able to water-ski at the age of five and was a windsurfer at the age of eleven. At 15 he sailed dinghies before venturing out on yachts .

Thomson regularly takes part in regattas . In 2004, 2008, 2012 and 2016 he was a participant in the Vendée Globe , in 2006 in the Velux 5 Oceans , in 2007 in the Rolex Fastnet Race and in 2008 in the Barcelona World Race . Hugo Boss has been the official lead sponsor of his racing team since 2004 and his IMOCA 60 yacht has been under the BOSS logo ever since.

Three weeks before participating in the Vendée Globe 2008, Thomson's yacht Hugo Boss collided with a French fishing boat and was badly damaged. After repairs, the yacht was ready to take off. Three days after the start, Thomson had to announce his retirement as water seeped into his Open 60 .

On November 6, 2016, Thomson set sail for the Vendée Globe on board his racing yacht 'HUGO BOSS' . The non-stop regatta for single-handed sailors begins and ends in Les Sables-d'Olonne, France . He finished this regatta on January 20, 2017 after 74 days, 19 hours and 35 minutes in second place.

Alex Thomson is married to Kate, née Denham, and has had a son since 2011.

successes

• 2018: Route du Rhum (third by penalty)
• 2017: Vendée Globe (runner-up)
• 2016: New York Vendée Transat Race (third)
• 2014: New York to Barcelona race (winner)
• 2013: Vendée Globe (third), Fastnet Race (second)
• 2012: West to east Transat record , 8 days, 22 hours, 8 minutes
• 2011: Transat B to B (fourth), Transat Jaques Vabre (second)
• 2008: Barcelona World Race (second)

Individual evidence

1. ↑ YOUNGEST EVER WINNING CLIPPER RACE SKIPPER ALEX THOMSON STARTS BARCELONA WORLD RACE TODAY . clipperroundtheworld.com. Accessed January 14, 2017 (English)
2. ↑ Alex Thomson Sailor ( Memento from February 26, 2016 in the Internet Archive ). jilliebushell.com. Accessed December 26, 2016 (English)
3. ↑ Another world record before the final . de.euronews.com. Accessed January 16, 2017
4. ↑ Alex Thomson Sailor ( Memento from February 26, 2016 in the Internet Archive ). jilliebushell.com. Accessed December 26, 2016 (English)
5. ^ Hugo Boss Sailing - The Partnership . group.hugoboss.com. Accessed December 26, 2016 (English)
6. ↑ Live tracker Vendée Globe 2016 . alexthomsonracing.geovoile.com. Accessed December 25, 2016
7. ↑ Yacht Magazin: Alex Thomson as second across the line - regatta. Retrieved January 20, 2017 . 
8. ↑ Alex Thomson's son Oscar ( Memento from December 25, 2016 in the Internet Archive ). thedailysail.com. Accessed December 26, 2016 (English)

Web links

• Alex Thomson's website
• Website of the sponsor Hugo Boss (German / English)
• Interview , Focus 03/15, January 10, 2015