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    Iron Heart Fall/Winter 2025 Collection Preview - Now Live

    Our Mate Alex Thomson’s Races

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    • bryaneidins70B
      bryaneidins70
      Iron Heart Deity
      Joined:

      That was bloody brilliant.

      What an amazing guy.

      'Fail we may…Sail we must'

      last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • GilesG
        Giles
        IHUK Crew
        Joined:

        He's in the lead heading for Storm Theta at approx 18 knots.  Does not look likes he's going to blink.  Balls of steel….But please Alex, don't break the bloody boat again.....

        "OK face up to it - you're useless but generally pretty honest and straightforward . . . it's a rare combination of qualities that I have come to admire in you" - Geo 2011

        last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • goosehdG
          goosehd
          Mod Squad
          Joined:

          Thanks for the update.  The last I had checked, he was in 2nd place with a 10nm separation.  If you get a chance you should watch his update vlogs on the vendee globe site.

          He looks like he’s having the time of his life.

          "I don't give a shit what anyone else is doing, we will do what is best for us and our customers" - Giles P. :)

          last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • GilesG
            Giles
            IHUK Crew
            Joined:

            Go here:

            https://www.alexthomsonracing.com/the-hub/race/

            You can see all sorts of info, including his sleep (or lack thereof) patterns, etc etc etc

            "OK face up to it - you're useless but generally pretty honest and straightforward . . . it's a rare combination of qualities that I have come to admire in you" - Geo 2011

            last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • GilesG
              Giles
              IHUK Crew
              Joined:

              For example….Effectively real-time....

              https://www.alexthomsonracing.com/the-hub/boat/

              "OK face up to it - you're useless but generally pretty honest and straightforward . . . it's a rare combination of qualities that I have come to admire in you" - Geo 2011

              last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
              • goosehdG
                goosehd
                Mod Squad
                Joined:

                Ok.  I did and that is so cool!

                How anyone can sail solo in such varying conditions (conditions that could destroy the boat and the occupant) for 70 days is a testament to the determination, genius, and a bit of madness of the skippers.

                "I don't give a shit what anyone else is doing, we will do what is best for us and our customers" - Giles P. :)

                last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                • goosehdG
                  goosehd
                  Mod Squad
                  Joined:

                  @Giles Did you ever get to board his latest boat?  How big is that living quarter?  I find it interesting that he is racing from below deck.

                  "I don't give a shit what anyone else is doing, we will do what is best for us and our customers" - Giles P. :)

                  last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                  • GilesG
                    Giles
                    IHUK Crew
                    Joined:

                    I have not been on this one.  As you probably know, he broke it big time sailing the 2-handed Transat Jacques Vabre last year, so he has not had it on the water nearly as much as he needed to.  The last thing he needed was a rank amateur getting in his way when he was trying to learn how to sail it.  So, I don't know how big it is, but he does not need a lot of space.  But I do know that when he gets back, his lower body will be emaciated from lack of decent exercise (does not have a lot of room for jogging in there), it takes him a long time to get back into decent physical shape.

                    If he brings it back, I'm def going to have a look around.

                    "OK face up to it - you're useless but generally pretty honest and straightforward . . . it's a rare combination of qualities that I have come to admire in you" - Geo 2011

                    last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                    • GilesG
                      Giles
                      IHUK Crew
                      Joined:

                      That's why he has a sealed cockpit - he does not like getting wet….

                      "OK face up to it - you're useless but generally pretty honest and straightforward . . . it's a rare combination of qualities that I have come to admire in you" - Geo 2011

                      last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                      • goosehdG
                        goosehd
                        Mod Squad
                        Joined:

                        I read a book about sailing in the southern ocean and would completely want a sealed cockpit down there.  High winds, unmeasurable swells, crazy temperatures, and the fact that the nearest land mass or help is days away.

                        I really do respect those guys and think that they are participating in the worlds most dangerous sport.

                        "I don't give a shit what anyone else is doing, we will do what is best for us and our customers" - Giles P. :)

                        last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                        • GilesG
                          Giles
                          IHUK Crew
                          Joined:

                          Dee Caffari used to have her offices close to ours….

                          Go to 2:20.  When this happened the nearest other human being to her was in the space station

                          "OK face up to it - you're useless but generally pretty honest and straightforward . . . it's a rare combination of qualities that I have come to admire in you" - Geo 2011

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                          • GilesG
                            Giles
                            IHUK Crew
                            Joined:

                            @goosehd

                            Here is a discussion about the cockpit concept….

                            And here is some seriously great footage of the old Higo Boss (we have part of that mainsail as an awning at the office now)....

                            "OK face up to it - you're useless but generally pretty honest and straightforward . . . it's a rare combination of qualities that I have come to admire in you" - Geo 2011

                            last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                            • GilesG
                              Giles
                              IHUK Crew
                              Joined:

                              For those of you who don't know.  The French have historically been the masters of long-distance solo yachting.  For years Alex was seen as being "too" professional by the French, they did not like the way he went about this his desire to win in a professional and business-like fashion. Basically, they disliked and mistrusted him.

                              In the 2012 Vendee, the French skipper JP Dick, lost his keel a few days away from the finish line .  Alex diverted his course to shadow JP, whist JP either had to abandon ship or learn how to sail without a keel. That sacrifice made the French love and respect Alex.  In 2019 the French awarded Alex the French National Award of Merit (probably the British equivalent of a Knighthood).

                              As I type this, Alex is heading into the eye of Storm Theta.  He has his cojones on the table.  The French now call this bravery (us mere mortals would probably call it stupidity) "Doing an Alex"..

                              I'm proud to know Alex and am frankly humbled by what he is putting his mind and body through…..

                              Go boy.

                              "OK face up to it - you're useless but generally pretty honest and straightforward . . . it's a rare combination of qualities that I have come to admire in you" - Geo 2011

                              last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                              • goosehdG
                                goosehd
                                Mod Squad
                                Joined:

                                Giles,

                                I bet Alex would be great to share a pint or two with.  Also, thank you for the story about Dee.  My hat is off to her.  Being on the mast for 90 minutes in the southern ocean, when you don’t particularly like heights.

                                "I don't give a shit what anyone else is doing, we will do what is best for us and our customers" - Giles P. :)

                                last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                • GilesG
                                  Giles
                                  IHUK Crew
                                  Joined:

                                  He's a fucking heathen - rum and coke…..

                                  "OK face up to it - you're useless but generally pretty honest and straightforward . . . it's a rare combination of qualities that I have come to admire in you" - Geo 2011

                                  last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                  • goosehdG
                                    goosehd
                                    Mod Squad
                                    Joined:

                                    So you’re saying he’s a proper sailor (pirate)!  😃

                                    I bet he can spin a yarn or two.

                                    "I don't give a shit what anyone else is doing, we will do what is best for us and our customers" - Giles P. :)

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                                    • motojoboboM
                                      motojobobo
                                      啓蒙家
                                      Joined:

                                      Any news on Alex’s progress?

                                      The journey is the objective.

                                      last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                      • goosehdG
                                        goosehd
                                        Mod Squad
                                        Joined:

                                        @motojobobo Here is the current info:

                                        "I don't give a shit what anyone else is doing, we will do what is best for us and our customers" - Giles P. :)

                                        last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                        • motojoboboM
                                          motojobobo
                                          啓蒙家
                                          Joined:

                                          Thankyou @goosehd ! Looks like Alex is clearly in the lead and doing fine. 👌🏼👌🏼

                                          The journey is the objective.

                                          last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                          • GilesG
                                            Giles
                                            IHUK Crew
                                            Joined:

                                            You can follow here|:

                                            https://www.vendeeglobe.org/en/tracking-map

                                            or here

                                            https://www.alexthomsonracing.com/the-hub/race/

                                            Latest vids here:

                                            https://www.alexthomsonracing.com/the-hub/latest-videos/

                                            "OK face up to it - you're useless but generally pretty honest and straightforward . . . it's a rare combination of qualities that I have come to admire in you" - Geo 2011

                                            last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
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