Sunday 8th January– Yesterday at 17:12 UTC, British sailor Alex Thomson broke another race record yesterday in the solo, non-stop, around the world race, the Vendée Globe as he reached the equator from Cape Horn in 13d 5hrs 30mins.
Thomson has beaten the previous race record set by Francois Garbart in the 2012-2013 edition to this milestone by 14hrs. Despite a damaged starboard foil Thomson has consistently been ranking second in the Vendée Globe, averaging speeds in excess of 20 knots.
The Vendée Globe takes place every four years and has historically been dominated by the French. This year’s edition sees 29 IMOCA 60s compete in the race, with Thomson as the only British entry.
Renowned for being one of the most gruelling sporting challenges in the world, only 71 of 138 sailors to date have finished the Vendée Globe since the race’s inception in 1989.
Thomson is determined to be the first British skipper to win the race, which could take upto 80 days to complete. With 89% of the race sailed in 62 days, the skippers are sailing back through the North Atlantic as they sprint to cross the finish line in Les Sables d’Olonne.