Hampshire sailor's race success
Hampshire sailor Alex Thomson has taken 3rd place in the Vendee Globe.
Latest ITV News reports
New British record for Thomson
It's a new British record. Hampshire yachtsman Alex Thomson is now the fastest person to sail around the world in a single hulled boat.
The 38 year old set the record in the Vendee Globe race - an 80 day marathon during which he survived vicious storms and slept in 20 minute bursts.
He crossed the finish line in 3rd place. Sally Simmonds has more.
Podium finish for Hampshire sailor
by Sarah Gomme
Alex Thomson has become the third British skipper ever to finish on the podium of the Vendee Globe.
Read the full storyAdvertisement
Video: Alex Thomson crosses the Vendee Globe finishing line
VIDEO: Alex Thomson, from Gosport in Hampshire, crosses the finishing line of the Vendee Globe round the world yacht race. He took third place this morning.
MP praises Hampshire sailor
So proud of Gosport's hero @alexthomson99 3rd in Vendee Globe #VG2012 amazing achievement. Special day for his super family & friends!
From @cj_dinenage on Twitter:Sir Robin Knox-Johnston congratulates Hampshire sailor
Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, the first man to sail solo non-stop around the world, has congratulated Alex Thomson on his podium finish in the prestigious Vendee Globe, the only single-handed non-stop round-the-world race.
At the age of 25 Alex Thomson became the youngest skipper to win a round-the-world race when he led Ariel to victory in the 1998-99 edition of the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race, which was founded by Sir Robin to enable people from all walks of life to experience the challenge of ocean racing.
Alex Thomson, from Gosport, completed the Vendee Globe today in Les Sables d’Olonne, France, 80 days after leaving on his record-breaking circumnavigation, finishing in third place behind Frenchmen Francois Gabart and Armel Le Cleac’h.
– Sir Robin Knox JohnstonCongratulations to Alex for joining the exclusive list of solo circumnavigators. The significance of his achievement is better understood when it is appreciated that three times as many people have been into space as have sailed solo around the world
He's done it! Hampshire sailor celebrates Vendee Globe success
Hampshire yachtsman Alex Thomson has finished third in the world's toughest sailing challenge - the Vendee Globe solo non-stop, around-the-world race.
38 year old Thomson, from Gosport, crossed the finish line at Les Sables d'Olonne in France in his 60-ft boat Hugo Boss.
He reached the Vendée Globe finish line at 07 hours 25 minutes 43 seconds (GMT) after 80 days 19 hours 23 minutes 43 seconds at sea. He finishes 2 days 18 hours and 7 minutes behind François Gabart.
In doing so he has also become the fastest Briton ever to sail around the world in a monohull boat - smashing the previous record by nearly eight days.
He's now only the third Briton to claim a top three finish in the Vendee after Ellen MacArthur was second in 2001 and Mike Golding - who is in sixth in this race - who finished third in 2004.
Advertisement
Breaking: Alex Thomson 3rd in Vendee Globe
Hampshire sailor Alex Thomson has taken 3rd place in the Vendee Globe. More follows...