Alex Thomson retires - for the time being - from active racing: The boss says goodbye

Alex Thomson is one of the best-known players in the international sailing world. His career has always had a fairytale quality to it, alongside the competitive element. As a strong sailor and charismatic ambassador for his sport, Thomson knew how to inspire with performance and highly publicised campaigns such as "Mastwalk" or "Skywalk" alongside his main sponsor Hugo Boss. However, he was unable to achieve his one major goal - winning the Vendée Globe. With his tireless but unfulfilled pursuit of the trophy in the race of his life, Thomson often reminded us of the former exceptional tennis player Ivan Lendl, who could win everything but Wimbledon.

Thomson's career was a bit like something out of a Hollywood film right from the start: at the age of 21, the boy from the southern English peninsula town of Gosport worked in a factory that produced plastic straws. He worked night shifts. One evening, his boss came to see him, complimented him and praised the hard-working young man as an exceptionally reliable employee. If he carried on like this, said the factory boss at the time, Thomson would be promoted to night shift foreman within two years. Thomson was so deeply shaken by his inner horror at what he saw as a far from rosy outlook that he left the factory that very evening and never returned.

A good quarter of a decade later, Thomson is now one of the most famous skippers in the world. He is one of the intrepid single-handed sailors who sail around the world in pursuit of records and adventures. At the age of only 25, Thomson made his first big mark, winning the Clipper Round the World Race and recommending himself for higher tasks with strikingly good leadership qualities and a great deal of ambition. Thomson's first appearances on the Imoca scene were 20 years ago. He has been in the same boat as main sponsor Hugo Boss for 18 years. The partners spurred on the Brit's rise and not only gave the self-made sailor, who has always remained down-to-earth and approachable, money and a wardrobe, but also provided him with a large portion of glamour on his way to the top. Thomson achieved his greatest successes at the Vendée Globe in 2012/13 with third place and in 2016/17 with second place. However, he was not granted the victory he deserved in the eyes of fans and observers. In the most recent edition in 2020/21, Thomson retired with his high-tech rocket "Hugo Boss" after a series of technical problems.

Thomson has now announced that he will not be taking part in the Vendée Globe in 2024, but has not completely ruled out the possibility of returning to the race of a lifetime in 2028, where he has set numerous speed records and has often been the centre of attention in dramatic or successful ways. Commenting on his departure from the current racing stage, Thomson said: "I've had the privilege of competing and racing in Imoca 60 regattas for nearly 20 years. I love the sport, but now the time has come to spend more time ashore with my young family. My wife Kate has raised our children singlehanded for the last ten years while I chased my dream. Now I want to support Kate and give her the same opportunity she has given me. This doesn't mean I'm retiring, just changing my role from spending most of my time at sea to more time on land."

"The Vendée Globe is the toughest sporting challenge in the world"

Thomson has always fulfilled his role as a figurehead for his sport well, willingly and authentically. He says: "Apart from being a skipper, I have always believed that it is my job to be an ambassador for our sport and to tell the story to an international audience. Over the last 20 years we have travelled to every corner of the world, from Russia to Mexico, Canada, Australia and Taiwan and even up the Yangtze River to Shanghai in China! There is a huge global fan base that follows and loves the Vendée Globe. I want to continue to promote the sport, continue to tell the story and share my knowledge and experience, but with a focus on the next generation."

Thomson and his Team 5 West Ltd want to stay together. The skipper says: "The goal has always been to win the Vendée Globe, which for me is still the toughest sporting challenge in the world, and we haven't managed that yet. This is the start of a new chapter with a new skipper and we will give him or her all the tools, knowledge, experience and environment to win." However, Thomson has not yet revealed who will take over the role as his successor. In the two decades in which he has been one of the major characters in the Imoca 60 scene, offshore sailing has changed considerably. Like Formula 1, yachts have evolved radically. Thomson and his team have also grown with the sport and have set their own standards at the limit with pioneering designs such as the latest Vendée Globe yacht "Hugo Boss". Thomson's team has captivated a global audience with award-winning stunts such as "Mastwalk" or "Skywalk" and extraordinary visual worlds.

Thomson's Technical Director Ross Daniel, who has worked alongside him for 20 years, said: "After eight races around the world we have a huge wealth of experience and have learnt a lot. We have designed and built some of the most innovative boats in the Imoca class. Our 2016 boat was considered the benchmark boat of its generation. We will continue to utilise our experience in designing and building boats and running successful campaigns and I look forward to the next campaign leading up to the Vendée Globe in 2024."

This will now be targeted without Thomson on board, who said of what may only be a temporary departure from his active racing career: "Without our partners, none of what we have achieved would have been possible, of course. I am eternally grateful to Hugo Boss for the support and loyalty they have shown me. Together we have been inspiring and inspiring people around the world for 18 years and have become a leading brand in sailing. I am so grateful to have worked so closely with the Hugo Boss team, with so many creative and inspiring people, many of whom will remain lifelong friends."

Four years ago, Thomson was additionally supported by a new technology partner, Nokia Bell Labs, which focussed its attention on the performance of the boat and Thomson itself. During the last Vendée Globe campaign, 'The Hub', an online dashboard provided live performance data for viewers as Thomson changed sails, made repairs, prepared food and slept. The platform showed fans the race and Thomson's life on board from new perspectives. "With Nokia Bell Labs by our side, we learnt so much about how to get the best out of the boat and me. We've really only scratched the surface of what's possible," said Thomson.

His words on leaving the active skipper stage: "I would like to say a big thank you to everyone who has been part of the journey so far. I would like to thank my teams, past and present, for their commitment and the trust they have placed in me. All our partners and suppliers for their support and of course our loyal fans. The biggest thanks of course goes to my wife Kate, who has been by my side every step of the way," said Thomson.