Alex Thomson, remains upbeat on day two of the Fastnet, despite currently sitting in ninth place in the IMOCA class. Thomson and his co-sailor, Nicholas O’Leary, are approximately just twenty miles behind the leader SMA. The conditions the fleet are facing are upwind, which are not favourable for the foil assisted HUGO BOSS.

As Technical Director, Ross Daniel, explains; “Alex and Nin are sailing the boat very well and are happy on board. The boat was designed for competing in reaching conditions in the Vendee Globe, and will always struggle upwind. From the start to the Fastnet Rock we will be upwind all the way, but the opportunities will come after we have rounded the Rock when we should have fast downwind sailing conditions.”

Thomson and O’Leary are clearly working hard to keep the gap between them and the front as small as possible, with both sailors managing just a couple of hours sleep overnight. Hear more from Alex onboard his boat HUGO BOSS here – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9SbQXSmAZc

The Fastnet is a 600 mile race which takes the participating boats from the Solent out through the English Channel, around the Fastnet Rock and finishes just off Plymouth. A notoriously difficult race that often sees winds up to gale force in strength, the race tests even the most experienced of offshore sailors. This year, approximately 400 boats were on the start line in Cowes. Thomson is expected to finish the race at some point on Tuesday night or Wednesday morning.

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