Alex Thomson, Racing Yacht Skipper, Vendee Globe 2008, After Dinner Speaker, Leadership Speaker, Sponsored by Hugo Boss, Alex Thomson, 33 year-old professional skipper, is a major talent in international yachting. Alex first came to prominence at the age of 25 when he became the youngest skipper ever to win a round-the-world yacht race when he won the 1998-1999 Clipper Race. Following that early success, in 2000 he won the Round Britain & Ireland Race on an Open 50 "Sail that Dream" in a record time of 10 days which still stands. In 2003, Alex was sailing captain on "HUGO BOSS" Farr 65 for the Rolex Fastnet Race and came 2nd in the Transat Jacques Vabre with Roland Jourdain on the Open 60 "Sill". At the end of 2003, Alex came a close third in the Defi Atlantique solo transatlantic race on Open 60 "AT Racing". However, during the race, he set a new 24 hour world speed sailing record for solo mono-hulls, covering 468 nautical miles at an average boat speed of 19.5 knots. In 2005 Alex became the first skipper to sign up for the 3 in 3 – 3 round the world races in 3 years starting with the Velux 5 Oceans in 2006, followed by the Barcelona World Race (BWR) in November 2007, and culminating in the 2008 Vendee Globe Having been forced to retire from the Velux 5 Oceans due to severe structural problems, Alex has become even more determined than ever to achieve his goal to be the first Briton to win the much coveted Vendee Globe, and is surrounding himself with a world class team to help him realise his dream. Career highlights: 2003 Set new 24hr solo monohull world speed sailing record covering 468m at an average boat speed of 19.5 knots. 3rd in Defi Atlantique solo transatlantic race on Open 60 "AT Racing". 2nd in Transat Jacques Vabre with Roland Jourdain on Open 60 "Sill". Sailing captain on "HUGO BOSS" Farr 65 for Rolex Fastnet Race 2000-2003 Founded and headed up the sailing side of Formula 1 Sailing yacht-racing charter company 1998-1999 1st in Clipper race and youngest skipper to win a RTW yacht race AT Racing

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