Alex Thomson Racing is producing a twelve part series, #RoadtoVendee, documenting Alex Thomson’s preparations and progress ahead of the 2016 Vendée Globe.
In Episode 3, Alex and the team stretch the legs of HUGO BOSS for the first time after her refit following Transat Jacques Vabre in October.
Video published on May 4, 2016.
Background: The Vendée Globe is still the only non-stop solo round the world race without assistance. On November 26, 1989, thirteen sailors set off in this first edition, which would last more than three months. Only seven made it back to les Sables d’Olonne.
Since then, the first seven editions of what the public refers to as the Everest of the seas, have enabled 138 sailors to line up at the start of the Vendée Globe, while only 71 have managed to cross the finishing line. This figure alone expresses the huge difficulty of this global event, where sailors face icy cold conditions, mountainous waves and leaden skies in the Southern Ocean.
Only one sailor has won it twice: Michel Desjoyeaux, in 2001 and 2009. The race record is held by François Gabart with a time of 78 days. The eighth Vendée Globe will set sail from les Sables d’Olonne on Sunday, November 6, 2016.
– See more at: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/2016/05/04/roadtovendee-episode-3/#sthash.63c1LGgN.dpuf
