Alex Thomson's HUGO BOSS

Alex Thomson’s HUGO BOSS

“The decision to install an electric motor onboard our boat was one that we made fairly early on in the design process. For us, Oceanvolt was the clear choice. It was a pleasure to work with the team to develop and integrate a system which is clean, safe, efficient and reliable. We believe it’s our responsibility to do everything we can to prioritise sustainability within our sport, and our partnership with Oceanvolt is a key part of that commitment. To us, sustainability and performance can, and should, go hand in hand.” – Alex Thomson, British Sailor

Designed in partnership by the Alex Thomson Racing team – led by Design Manager Pete Hobson – and French naval architects VPLP, the HUGO BOSS boat is the first of its kind in the world.

The product of more than two years of painstaking design and build work, undertaken by more than 100 naval architects, designers, engineers and boat builders, the IMOCA 60 race boat was built with one goal in mind – to win the Vendée Globe in 2020-21.

Alex Thomson Racing’s Technical Director, Ross Daniel, said: “As a team, we are committed to operating in the most sustainable, responsible way possible, and that commitment will filter through to the new HUGO BOSS boat.

“Battery power is really the heart of the boat. It’s crucial for communication, navigation, and the running of both the onboard water maker and the autopilot. If the heart stops beating, the boat stops. It’s therefore critical that we implement a system that we trust, and can rely upon, in order to ensure Alex’s safety.

“We will explore solar energy as the primary power source, via solar panels located across the deck. In order to do so, we must consider not only the duration of the race but also the conditions that the boat will be exposed to. For example, when Alex finds himself in the depths of the southern ocean where there is restricted direct sunlight, we have to be sure that the solar panels are still capable of delivering the amount of energy that the boat requires."