Alex Thomson received a hero’s welcome when he returned to his homeland Gosport after creating a new British Vendee Globe sailing record. The Former Clipper Race skipper is the youngest skipper to claim the Clipper Race.
He brought his Hugo Boss back to the Portsmouth Harbor after a great race at the Vendee Globe nonstop around the world race. He was welcomed back home by hundreds of supporters last Saturday morning despite the weather being snowy.
Alex completed the Vendee Globe on January 20 after sailing for 74 days, 19 hours and 35 minutes. The winner of the Vendee Globe race was Armel Le Clèac’h. Alex finished in the 2nd sport and this is the best showing by any British man in the race. Alex was 16 hours and 31 seconds behind the winner, Armel.
Alex told Dubrovnik Bareboat Yacht Charter that it was the support and love that he received from the local Gosport community that inspired him to complete this testing race. He said that it was really exciting and thrilling for him to sail the Hugo Boss during the Vendee Globe race. He is also excited to come back to his hometown on the Hugo Boss. He said that the homecoming ceremony was a special event in his life.
Alex said that the Vendee Globe is a tough race and when you take part in that event anything can happen at any time. There is no way you can feel safe and that you will finish the race until it is completed. It is only when the finish line in Les Sables d’Olonne that you feel that the race is over. He said that completing the race brought joy and excitement to him had his crew members.
Alex smashed his own British Vendee Globe record of 80 days this season by completing the race in 74 days.