Thomson sails into the lead for Britain in the Vendée Globe

Tuesday 15 November 2016

A man who's family is from Jersey has sailed into pole position in one of the most difficult sporting challenges in the world - a 26,000 mile race nicknamed the Everest of the Seas.

Alex Thomson has taken the lead for Britain in the Vendée Globe round the world yacht race and if he stays on course will be the first Brit to win it.

At the time of writing, Alex was travelling at 17.8 knots aboard his yacht sponsored by Hugo Boss and had overtaken skipper Armel Le Cleac’h onboard Banque Populaire who has been leading the race over the last few days. 

The speeds Alex has achieved over the weekend has seen him overtake eight of the 28 other competitors, putting him into the lead after a bold decision to pass through a passage between the western Cape Verde Islands.

He set off from Western France on 6 November to start the non-stop solo race that he's already attempted three times, but only finished once, in third place in 2012.

Speaking ahead of the race, he said: "Finishing this race, in whatever position, is a success. For me and the race, it's about the competition, if i'm performing to or exceeding my expectations, it's the best feeling in the world, it's so easy to put up with the discomfort. When you are not performing to your expectations, then quite literally, it is hell on earth."

Tonight he should be entering the doldrums, an area of the Atlantic renowned for its light airs.

You can keep up-to-date with his progress here and you can see Alex in action training for the big race here. 

(Picture credit: Yves Sucksdorff)