Hugo Boss has announced its renewed sponsorship of World Record holding British solo skipper Alex Thomson in a four- year multi-million pound deal which follows Thomson’s pledge in October 2005 to compete in ‘3 in 3’:- three round the world races in as many years.

This gruelling 100,000-mile race programme kicks off in Bilbao in October 2006 with the single-handed 30,000 mile VELUX 5 Oceans. Thomson then heads back to Spain in November 2007 for the inaugural two-crew non-stop Barcelona World Race, brainchild of Dame Ellen MacArthur’s Offshore Challenges Group, and his marine marathon culminates with the pinnacle race: the legendary Vendée Globe in November 2008.

Chatting about the new contract, 32 year old Thomson said: “I am obviously over the moon about this deal as it gives me a genuine chance to realise my dream of winning the Vendée Globe in 2008. Hugo Boss have been fantastically supportive since they began sponsoring me and to show this level of long-term commitment speaks volumes about them and about our relationship.”

Hampshire based Thomson is currently working with the team of designers at Finot-Conq & Associates, on his brand-new state-of-the-art open 60 which will be built in New Zealand. Finot-Conq have designed four of the five Vendee Globe winners and when combined with the technical expertise of master boat builders, Southern Ocean Marine and Alex’s unrivalled love of speed, this could well be an unbeatable formula.

Pascal Conq added: “We are very excited about working with Alex and Hugo Boss, as we think that this combination of a talented sailor and a dedicated sponsor provides the best conditions to add a fifth Vendée Globe to our resume.”

The new boat will replace his current Open 60, on which he set the current World 24 hour Solo Monohull Distance Record in 2003 (468 nautical miles at an average boat speed of 19.53 knots).

Thomson concluded: “Even though I hold the World Record I’ve always felt that I could go faster and with the new boat I am confident that I will break my own record.”