British sailing team Alex Thomson Racing will begin their 2021 competitive season with the Fastnet Race on August 8th.

Three months out from the start of the prestigious race, the team this week returned their IMOCA 60 yacht, HUGO BOSS, to the water, with training set to commence in the coming days.

“The boat has had a full inspection, NDT and service, and two new rudders installed” said Skipper Thomson. “Restrictions here in the UK due to the pandemic have meant that we’ve worked at a steady pace to keep our team safe. Now, with the work complete and restrictions set to ease, we’re looking forward to getting back out there to train again”.

The 695 nautical mile Fastnet Race will begin on Sunday 8th August from Cowes, UK with a record 450+ boats – across multiple classes – set to compete. The fleet will sail via the Fastnet Rock off south west Ireland and will finish, for the first time in the race’s 96-year history, in Cherbourg, France.

Sailing onboard HUGO BOSS, Thomson – joined for the double-handed race by a co-skipper yet to be decided by his team - will aim to better his previous second place finish in the race:

“This will be my 11th Fastnet, I believe, so we’ve got a lot of experience in this race. I’m really looking forward to sailing the new course and finishing in Cherbourg. I think it adds a new tactical dimension to the race”.