Hugo Boss went back into the water in her home berth in Haslar Marina this week, after spending the last few months in Endeavour Quay being repaired (see picture of damage sustained in the Vendee Globe 08/09). Now all structural repairs are complete and the distinctive back hull has been re-sprayed.

The mast has been stepped and the boat is being prepped this week for sea trials – having the rigging and tuning tweaked. Once the team is happy, Hugo Boss will head to the Mediterranean in May, where Alex Thomson will be present for the Monaco Grand Prix – supporting Hugo Boss and the McLaren team.

Alex and the boat captain Ross Daniels will use the delivery trip as training for their double handed challenge this November – the Transat Jacques Vabres. The whole team is now gearing up for the coming six months, with Will Jackson and Ollie Young, who both worked on the Hugo Boss ll Volvo 60 tour, returning to help prepare the boat and get her ready for this new season.