Hot on the heels of announcing his new boat ( read Elaine Bunting’s blog ) Alex Thomson has announced his co skipper for the Transat Jacques Vabre as long time boat captain Ross Daniel. Alex and Ross will take part in the transatlantic race on the current IMOCA 60 HUGO BOSS, which is now up for sale following the purchase of Pindar last week.

This is the last race that Alex will take part in on his 2007 Finot Conq Open 60, and the first IMOCA offshore race that he and Ross will compete in together. Having sailed and worked together for eight years, and seen two Vendee campaigns, Ross and Alex are in a very good position to push the boat to its maximum potential.

Ross, like Alex, started his career at Clipper, then went on to skipper their round the world race before venturing into the IMOCA class. Ross also won early accolades in his career being the youngest skipper to win the ARC in 2001 at the age of 21, and at the same time breaking the record for the crossing in 11 days.

Both Ross and Alex will leave Portsmouth on the 28 October to deliver the yacht to Le Havre for the start of the race – 8 November.