British offshore sailor Alex Thomson and Swiss co-skipper Ollie Heer have today started the 49thRolex Fastnet Race, the double-handed 695mile race which started from Cowes, Isle of Wight.

The prestigious race sees over 350 yachts race around the Fastnet Rock in the Irish Sea, and sprint back to Cherbourg, France, where the race finishes for the first time since its inception in 1925.

The duo will be competing with 13 other yachts in the IMOCA 60 class, the first time Alex Thomson has lined up against the fleet since competing in the Vendée Globe last November.

Thomson, a Rolex Fastnet Race veteran, is looking forward to being back on the race track with his foiling IMOCA 60 HUGO BOSS and competing with aspirational Vendée Globe co-skipper and Boat Captain of HUGO BOSS, Ollie Heer. “I am really looking forward to being back racing and lining up against a strong IMOCA fleet on the start line of this year’s Rolex Fastnet Race. The boat is in fantastic shape following repairs we made earlier this year and we have spent the last few months training and testing. The Fastnet is one of my favourite races and I am especially looking forward to competing alongside Ollie for his first race in the IMOCA class.”

Heer, an integral member of the Alex Thomson Racing team for four years, has aspirations to compete in the Vendée Globe. “This is my third Rolex Fastnet Race, and I am happy and grateful to have the opportunity to race alongside Alex and to experience competing on HUGO BOSS in full race mode.”

Fans will be able to track the Rolex Fastnet Race on the Alex Thomson Racing Hub and follow the progress of Thomson and Heer as they take on the rest of the IMOCA fleet. Live technical and sensing data from onboard HUGO BOSS, developed with Alex Thomson Racing Team partner Nokia Bell Labs will give fans a real insight into what life is like onboard HUGO BOSS during this intense offshore race.

Follow Alex Thomson and Ollie Heer in the Rolex Fastnet Race here: https://www.alexthomsonracing.com/the-hub/race/

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