Making waves – Alex’s life on high seas

THE Vendee Globe yacht race is sailed alone non-stop without assistance every four years. It started in 1992, is seen as the ultimate test in ocean racing and has been won only by Frenchmen.

• The last Briton to win a round-theworld race was Sir Robin Knox-Johnston – Alex Thomson’s inspiration and mentor – in his 32ft boat Suhaili, taking 312 days. Thomson’s 60ft boat is expected to finish in 75 days.

• The best British finisher in the Vendee so far is Dame Ellen MacArthur, who was second in 2001.

• This is Thomson’s fourth attempt. He had to abandon his first two because of boat damage and was third in 2013.

• Of the 29 boats that started in November, 11 have abandoned.

• Alex sleeps in 45-minute spells which add up to about four hours a day. He uses an electric-shock watch and a boat alarm to wake him.

• The leading boats have foils either side of the hull to lift them out of the water and increase speed. Thomson lost his starboard foil on November 19.

• Thomson has not showered since stripping off in the rain while crossing the Doldrums on November 14. “Your body starts to wash itself or you stop smelling it,” he said. He does not wash his clothes; rather wears them until worn out.

• The boats have water makers to provide fresh water. Thomson, above, drinks six litres daily.

• He goes to the loo in a no-tip carbonfibre bucket – “you don’t want it falling over.”

• He has to consume 5,500 calories a day. Since his fresh food ran out a few days into the race, he has lived off freeze-dried boil-in-the-bag food – “it needs livening up with some Lea & Perrins” – muesli, Ryvita and Marmite, energy bars and peanuts, with the odd treat of cured Spanish ham. When it’s over he said: “I’ll have a cheeseburger, chips and a cold beer please”.

• His wife Kate will then take him and the kids on holiday – sailing the Caribbean.