We could only choose as a cover photo that of Alex Thomson’s IMOCA HUGO BOSS, the only, inimitable, mythical “street kid” of ocean sailing. In my opinion, he is a great sailor. He won a third and a second place in the Vendée Globe and he wanted to win the latest Vendée. There is the Alex Thomson for the media which fits perfectly with his way of “sailing balls out”. Sorry for the phrase but that really sums him up, a great guy.

During the last Vendée where the opportunity arose to be filmed by the navy helicopter Banque Populaire of Armel le Cleach on board sailed composed, clean and fast. Alex had broken the starboard foil but for the occasion he took out all the canvas he could hold. The boat lay on the edge, almost out of control, but otherwise it wouldn’t have been Alex Thomson.

For someone who is passionate about meteorology like me, Alex is truly extraordinary. Always at the max. He makes moves which, if he were playing chess, should add in addition to the horse pieces such as the lion, the puma and the saber-toothed tiger. He’s not always right, but let’s say that the Vendée he did in 2016 with a broken foil for most of the regatta made me dream.

Armel won it is true, by 33 minutes after 74 days of sailing against the free spirit of the gull Thomson with a broken wing, which for me was undoubtedly the moral winner of this extraordinary edition of new records to be broken.

The famous flight-over the French Navy
We re-propose this flight over north of Kerguelan in the South Pacific at the limit of roaring forties. Alex Thomson on the previous Hugo Boss and Armel le Cleach on Banque Populaire, continued to exchange positions then Armel took the lead for more than 800 miles… But Alex knows that in a race anything can happen and he never gives up. “Never give up”, never take your foot off the accelerator. Back in the Atlantic at the equator, he was only 33 miles behind. On arrival 33 minutes – spectacular.

After the first video where you see his Hugo Boss in black and yellow, you will see the new one with C foils and a black and red / pink deckhouse.

Click here to check out the following videos selected by Marco Nannini for Global Solo Challenge

Imocas with foils in action: 

Speed tests, IMOCA – Defi Azimut

Alex Thomspson – IMOCA HUGO BOSS

Thomas Ruyant – IMOCA LINKEDOUT

Armel Tripon – IMOCA L’OCCITANE EN PROVENCE

Sébastien SIMON- IMOCA ARKEA-PAPREC

Fabrice Amedeo – IMOCA NEWREST – ART & FENÊTRES

Jérémie BEYOU – IMOCA CHARAL

Charlie DALIN – IMOCA APIVIA