Alex Thomson Does His Amazing Keel Walk Again

Alex Thomson Keel Walking A Second Time (Photo by Lloyd Images)

CLICK HERE TO WATCH ALEX THOMSON ATTEMPT THE KEEL WALK

8 tonnes of carbon fibre yacht, a 255 horsepower jet ski, 45 combined years of sailing experience, and one crazy guy in a suit. ‘We’ve got a safety boat, a film boat, a jet ski… all we need is a plane, man!’ said Alex Thomson, shortly before heading out into the waters of The Solent in the UK to attempt what he calls ‘The Keel Walk’, a stunt that has become infamous throughout the world thanks to the iconic image of Alex ‘riding’ the keel of his 60ft yacht ‘HUGO BOSS’. ‘But everyone always assumes it was ‘Photoshopped’,’ said Alex ‘and I was determined to prove them wrong, so we decided to try again.’ Easier said than done…to sail at the right speed to keep the keel out of the water for long enough for Alex to get on it, you need 18 knots of wind, a slight sea state and a seriously cool-headed skipper. ‘We’d wake up one day and the conditions would look just right, so we’d sound the alarm and get the boat prepped, bring in the jet ski guy, the RIB driver, the photographer, the camera guys… I’m in the suit, ready to go…and the wind drops. It was hurry up and wait, hurry up and wait.’

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Posted by admin on Wednesday, February 1, 2012 at 9:47 am
Filed under Alex Thomson, Hugo Boss, IMOCA 60, Latest News · Tagged with Alex Thomso Keel Walk, Alex Thomson, Alex Thomson Racing, boat, Hugo Boss, IMOCA 60, keel, keel walk, open 60, sail, sailing, Walk, Walk keel

Guillermo Altadill To Be Co-skipper On Hugo Boss In The Transat Jacques Vabre

Hugo Boss (Photo courtesy Hugo Boss/ Alex Thonpson Racing)

Hugo Boss (Photo copywright Hugo Boss)

Alex Thomson Racing today announced that Guillermo Altadill, the celebrated Spanish round-the-world sailor, will be joining Alex aboard HUGO BOSS for the 2011 edition of the Transat Jacques Vabre race, which starts in Le Havre on Sunday October 30th.

Guillermo and I have now participated in several races together, including the Fastnet, and it’s a partnership that works well’ said Alex, who, alongside Guillermo, has started a comprehensive training schedule for the race, both on and off the water. ‘Guillermo’s extensive ocean racing experience, both solo and as part of a crew, complements my own experience well, and we’re excited about getting the TJV underway.’

Alex and Guillermo will be sailing the race aboard the Farr-designed IMOCA 60 from OC ThirdPole. ‘Following the Fastnet, we decided to bring forward our refit work on the Juan Kouyoumdjian-designed boat, and we took this opportunity to utilise a fast and proven boat that is ready to go’ said Stewart Hosford, Managing Director of Alex Thomson Racing.

Guillermo Altadill is already familiar with the boat having raced on board in the Barcelona World Race 2007/8 for a previous sponsor, Estrella Damm. As Veolia Environnement, the boat won the Route du Rhum in 2010 with Roland Jourdain at the helm, and as BT, with Seb Josse, won the Rolex Fastnet Race in 2009.

A press conference formally announcing the teams and arrangements for the Transat Jacques Vabre will be held in Paris on Thursday, September 22nd at 11am.

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Posted by admin on Saturday, September 24, 2011 at 7:40 pm
Filed under Alex Thomson, Guillermo Altadill, Hugo Boss, IMOCA 60, Latest News, Transat Jacques Vabre · Tagged with Alex Thomson, Alex Thomson Racing, Guillermo Altadill, Hugo Boss, Transat Jacques Vabre

Hugo Boss IMOCA 60 Moves To Alex Thomson Racing Base After Refit

Hugo Boss Open 60. Shown here as the yacht is launched from slipway at Green Marine, Southampton (Photo By Lloyd Images)

The latest incarnation of the HUGO BOSS IMOCA 60 was given a brief airing on Friday as it was transferred from the Green Marine shed at Spitfire Quay, Southampton to Alex Thomson Racing’s base in Gosport.

Over the last 4 months the boat has been undergoing a dramatic modification and re-fit under the guidance of boat designer Juan Kouyoumdjian that will provide Alex Thomson with the most powerful IMOCA 60 in the World.

The boat, now virtually unrecognisable from the original Kouyoumdjian designed Pindar, features a number of radical changes that sets the boat apart from the IMOCA 60 fleet but, under the new grandfathering rule, keeps the boat within the restrictions set down by IMOCA. Alex Thomson Racing is confident that the results will lead to some exciting sailing.

Hugo Boss After Refit In Southhampton, UK (Photo by Lloyd Images)

“We’ve worked closely with Juan to create something that’s a bit special and we’re all really pleased with the result”, said Alex Thomson. “We’re in the process of fitting the rig and then we’ll be able to try her out. I’ve been looking forward to that moment for quite a while now”.

HUGO BOSS is due to be officially unveiled in all its glory at a high profile launch event in May. Alex Thomson will then embark on a six-month sailing programme that will take him up to the start of the Barcelona World Race in December where he hopes to go one better having finished second in the 2007/8 race.