Alex Thomson’s keel walk
By Alex Thomson Racing on 1 Feb
Now you know what we did last summer...
8 tonnes of carbon fibre yacht, a 255 horsepower jet ski, 45 combined years of sailing experience, and one crazy guy in a suit.
‘We’ve got a safety boat, a film boat, a jet ski… all we need is a plane, man!’ said Alex Thomson, shortly before heading out into the waters of The Solent in the UK to attempt what he calls ‘The Keel Walk’, a stunt that has become infamous throughout the world thanks to the iconic image of Alex ‘riding’ the keel of his 60ft yacht ‘HUGO BOSS’.
‘But everyone always assumes it was ‘Photoshopped’,’ said Alex ‘and I was determined to prove them wrong, so we decided to try again.’
Easier said than done…to sail at the right speed to keep the keel out of the water for long enough for Alex to get on it, you need 18 knots of wind, a slight sea state and a seriously cool-headed skipper.
‘We’d wake up one day and the conditions would look just right, so we’d sound the alarm and get the boat prepped, bring in the jet ski guy, the RIB driver, the photographer, the camera guys… I’m in the suit, ready to go…and the wind drops. It was hurry up and wait, hurry up and wait.’
More photos on the Photo Gallery tab below
A revolutionary new mast for Safran
A new ballast system, a new titanium keel, and now a new mast with a 3D woven carbon mast track, which is something completely new in the world of ocean racing.
Posted on 11 May
Mike Golding’s IMOCA 60 Gamesa dismasted
On 2 May, at 1540, whilst training off Thorness Bay, Isle of Wight, in 12 knots of wind, Mike Golding’s IMOCA 60, Gamesa, was dismasted following a suspected failure in the furling gear.
Posted on 4 May
Europa Warm’up - A new chapter for the Europa Race
Breaking through difficult economic times, and rising from a period of uncertainty which surrounded the proposed Europa Race, IMOCA’s skippers and their sponsors, in collaboration with the race’s host cities have developed a new, joint initiative.
Posted on 27 Apr
Europa Tour to start in Barcelona
Barcelona has put forward the proposal to be start venue for the Europa Race on the weekend of 17-20 May 2012. The majority of those teams previously signed up for the event, have confirmed their interest in racing.
Posted on 28 Mar
The Europa Race is confirmed
The Europa Race will indeed set sail from Istanbul on 5 May 2012. Under threat for a while, in the face of the Franco-Turk diplomatic controversy, the race is finally going ahead thanks to the combined willingness of the organiser.
Posted on 15 Mar
All safely back in Lorient after the Transat B to B Race
It was a fine afternoon: despite the cold and a few residual squalls, friends, families, shore crews and locals flocked to Lorient, South-West Brittany, to welcome in the Transat B to B racers.
Posted on 17 Dec 2011
François Gabart on Macif wins the Transat B to B
With the course being shortened at 1900 UTC last night, to transform the safety gate into the finish line due to the truly exception weather conditions in the Bay of Biscay, so it was that the string of finishers has been coming in thick and fast.
Posted on 15 Dec 2011
François Gabart on Macif wins the Transat B to B
Scorching across the finish line (safety gate offshore of Spain) at 23h 11m 30s on Wednesday 14 December UTC, François Gabart on Macif takes victory in the Transat B to B 2011.
Posted on 15 Dec 2011
The Transat B to B shortened at the safety gate
Race management for the Transat B to B, in agreement with the organiser of the event and the relevant authorities, race committee and jury, has decided to bring the race to a close offshore of Spain.
Posted on 14 Dec 2011
Transat B to B Race from Saint Barts to Lorient - Day 10
The last few miles of this Transat B to B may well be the most difficult of the passage across the Atlantic. On arrival in the Bay of Biscay, in some particularly hard weather conditions, the solo sailors know that seamanship is going to be essential.
Posted on 14 Dec 2011