Thompson and Thomson

Heroes of offshore racing to join Pindar posse at Rolex Antigua Race Week

Pindar, the print and electronic media company, have announced that leading British yachtsmen Brian Thompson and Alex Thomson will join the crew for the company’s debut entry in this year’s Rolex Antigua Race Week. Both will sail on the Open 60, Pindar AlphaGraphics during the week-long race programme which begins on Sunday 30 April. Alex Thomson will also race in the Guadeloupe-Antigua Race on Thursday 27 April.

The duo, who bring a wealth of competitive offshore sailing experience will compete alongside the Pindar crew including 26-year old Nick ‘Nobi’ Black, who will be looking to make his mark in his first skipper appearance on board the Open 60. He said “Brian and Alex’s involvement has been a real boost to the crew and we’re very excited they are both able to join us for the regatta. For me in particular it will be a fantastic experience and a great opportunity to learn from two of the most talented and respected sailors in the world today.”

Brian Thompson, 44, has over 12 years professional racing experience and has clocked more multihull sailing miles than any other Briton today. His experience in both solo and crewed campaigns has earned him a total of 25 world records, most through his association with American Steve Fossett, including the fastest non-stop around the world record, which he broke on board Cheyenne in 2004, and latterly as skipper of Maiden II. He commented “I’m looking forward to a great week of competitive sailing. Pindar AlphaGraphics is widely regarded as one of the fastest Open 60s on the IMOCA circuit and I think we stand a great chance of doing well. I’m very grateful to Andrew Pindar and team for inviting me to join them for what promises to be a tremendous week.”

Alex Thomson, 31 year-old hugo Boss skipper, is another major talent in international yachting. The first skipper to commit to race ‘3 in 3’ - three round the world races in three years, he first made his mark in the 1999 Clipper Race when, at 25, he became the youngest skipper ever to win a round-the-world yacht race. Known for his high profile Hugo Boss sponsorship and his love of speed, Alex holds the world 24 hour solo monohull speed sailing record having covered an amazing 468 nautical miles on Open 60 AT Racing during the Defi Atlantique in 2003.

The dismasting of Thomson's mid-Southern ocean earlier this year has forced Alex to revisit his schedule and in particular, his preparation for the upcoming Velux 5 Oceans race in October. “Losing the mast has put the boat out of action for a few months but not me!” said a buoyant Thomson. “When the chance came up to race on Pindar AlphaGraphics I jumped at it - she’s a great boat, really fast, and it will be an good opportunity to compare racing with a fixed mast, which my new mast will be.”

Pindar’s second entry, the Pindar Volvo 60, skippered by Loz Marriott is due to arrive into Dickenson Bay on Thursday before racing commences on Sunday.