HUGO BOSS re-launched

HUGO BOSS is re-launched two weeks after Thomson thought his Vendée was over © Mark Lloyd / DPPI

HUGO BOSS is re-launched two weeks after Thomson thought his Vendée was over © Mark Lloyd / DPPI

After Alex Thomson’s yacht, HUGO BOSS was dramatically struck by a fishing vessel 15 days ago, Alex thought his four years of preparation and training, and his dream of the Vendée were over.

However, today there is hope for the record breaking yachtsman with most of the HUGO BOSS repairs complete. The boat was lifted back into the water this morning at 7.30am. This will allow the team a further week for sea trials and finalizing the repairs with the aim to get Alex to the Vendée start line.

“I have had so much help from the sailing community, specialists, local suppliers, other Open 60 teams, Team Origin and the local community here in les Sables d’Olonne. It is fantastic that the boat is back in the water. But we have a few more stages to go yet with the repair and testing - my focus and drive are to make it to the Vendée start line. I couldn’t have got here without the support from everyone around me, and I will be forever grateful.”

Alex Thomson, HUGO BOSS Skipper

Since the incident, a team of up to 40 people have been working around the clock at a local boat yard, called Alliaura Marine, to complete the repairs.

The repairs to HUGO BOSS have been undertaken in a record time with the help and support of a huge variety of businesses both local and international, and individuals who have offered assistance.

After much timing planning the repair, the build team set about cutting a section the damaged area of the hull, approximately 3.5m x 2m. Once this was removed it was prepared for the new single skin to be fitted. After the bulkhead sections had been replaced and laminated, the team prepared for the painting. The final touches were completed and the HUGO BOSS branding was replaced.

“We have been extremely lucky. If the boat has been struck ½ metre to the aft, it would have been impossible to repair the damage. To do the repair that quickly is difficult - the planning has to be spot on. If we had made one mistake it wouldn’t have happened. It has been the organization from everyone that has meant it has happened in record time – from SP Systems getting straight onto the structures, Paul Quinn planning how we could fix it, and then keeping the processes on time. Although it is a repair, it is still a very good boat. Once Alex gets sailing again I am positive he will overcome this hurdle.”

Said Jason Carrington, Shift Leader for the HUGO BOSS repair

The team were lucky they were able to retrieve the mast after the damage, and excellent progress continued alongside the work on the hull. Southern Spars New Zealand, produced the new section of mast. PRS Machining of Gosport, pulled out all the stops to provide Alex with the final part of the jigsaw - a new mast plate to replace the old one which was damaged when the rig came down. After the mast was repaired in one piece the layers of laminate could be applied. Other suppliers including Future Fibres have worked hard to deliver components to the team on the ground, including replacing all the rigging to the boat in time for the race start.

The rigging team was able to work on the ropes which attach to, or go through, the mast. The electronics team replaced all of the new mast hardware, strobe lights and the tricolour.

Now all the structural repairs have been completed and the boat has been lifted back into the water, it is crucial to the preparation for the Vendée Globe that the team at Alex Thomson Racing has the opportunity to test the boat on the water before the start of the race on November 9th.

“It’s quite incredible to think only 8 days ago they started to cut out the damaged section, and now it looks amazing. It may not look brand new but there certainly won’t be any water coming in! I can’t actually believe we have the boat back in the water and we will be getting out sailing the next few days.” said Alex.

HUGO BOSS was just 2 miles outside the harbour of les Sables d’Olonne when the incident happened, on the 17th October. HUGO BOSS was waiting to transfer some of the technical team onboard at daylight having just crossed the channel from their homeport of Gosport, UK ready for the start of the Vendée Globe. The fishing vessel, registered in France, struck HUGO BOSS forward of the cap shroud on the starboard side, severely holing HUGO BOSS and bringing the mast down.

Both Alex and HUGO BOSS were in excellent shape and ready for the start of the Vendee Globe. Sailing with Andrew Cape, (currently navigator onboard PUMA in the Volvo Ocean Race) Alex and his Finot Conq designed HUGO BOSS finished second in the 2007/8 Barcelona World Race. During this race the pair set the current 60 foot monohull 24 hour speed record at 501.3nm with an average speed of 20.9 knots.

The Vendée Globe is described as the Everest of Sailing, a single handed nonstop race around the globe. This year’s race has attracted a record entry of 30 boats.

More information at www.alexthomsonracing.com