HUGO BOSS LEAVES PORTUGAL ON VENDÉE GLOBE QUALIFYING PASSAGE

The refit has been relatively easy and painless and Portimao has proved to be an excellent refit facility. Rudder problems experienced during the Barcelona World Race have now been fully resolved and await full testing over the coming 12 days. Cracks were found at the head of the keel at the end of the Barcelona World Race and although not proved to be structural, Finot-Conq the boats designers and the team felt it was prudent to replace the head and restore 100% confidence in this critical area.

This will be Alex’s first solo trip on HUGO BOSS since it came out of the build shed in June 2007. “HUGO BOSS is back in the water and ready for my qualifying passage which I am looking forward to. Portimao has been a great refit base for us and the team have really enjoyed working here, everyone has bent over backwards to help. Time now for me to find out how HUGO BOSS handles with just one driver, I will miss Capey for sure” said Alex before departing.

All skippers looking to complete in this year's Vendée Globe need to complete a solo 2500 mile passage before 1st July 2008. The only two British skippers to have so far fully completed the Vendée qualification are Mike Golding (ECOVER) and Sam Davies (ROXY).

Looking at the current weather systems the qualifying passage is estimated to take approximately 12 days, with HUGO BOSS expected to finish in Plymouth by 20th May.