Our Mate Alex Thomson’s Races
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Well, if Alex can raise the sponsorship, he is going to do it again in 4 yers. I suspect the sponsorship deal is effectively already sorted - but he's being a little coy…
Plan will be to sell the current boat as it's worth a lot because it is so fast (he reckoned like for like he was 2 knots faster than the French in most winds), but he wants a new boat built learning from his design mistakes on the last one and of course being completely up to date with the new rating IMOCA 60 rating.
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There's an IMOCA class meeting in a month or two to discuss rules, and I think that I posted earlier that there are rumours that it might be shared with the Volvo Ocean Race. If it's a big shakeup, then selling now, and building anew is a very good plan.
But I expect Alex to be back. It sounds like he's got unfinished business.
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Alex wants to be in a position to start the design and build directly after that meeting. He said last night, that he does not believe the changes will be that radical, but he does not want to risk keeping the old boat. For instance to move the position of the foils, which he thinks will be a requirement, will cost him $1.4million….. Feckin' OUCH....
Armel apparently was a gibbering wreck at the finish, Alex hounding him for best part of 50 days and never really being able to shake him off and thus relax, really got to him....He won't be in the next Vende ::)
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The Volvo Ocean Race organisers have just announced their new rules, and they're going for an IMOCA derived one-design boat designed by Guillaume Verdier. He, in conjunction with VPLP, is responsible for all of the new generation of Open 60s.
So rather than going up a size, both events are sticking to 60 footers. Probably makes sense as the cost of a boat increases rapidly with length, the Volvo can resell its fleet to IMOCA racers, and it preserves the value of the Open 60s.
I haven't heard what's changed with the IMOCA rules. I don't think that it's anything major.
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Hogo Boss unveiled! One year to the start ;)!
Picture Vendeé Globe
Some Insider informations @Giles ?
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Luckily Alex has a new boat…..
That means we can have the main section of his old mainsail....See here:
https://www.ironheart.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=13208.msg614412#msg614412
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You don't need to be particularly interested in, or understand sailing to read and watch this and be in total awe of the man. It's not Alex, but Thomas Colville:
