Me and the TJV

So finally I have got the opportunity to compete in the Transat Jacque Vabre race.

In 2003 not long after completing the clipper round the world race I went over to the town of La Harve in North France for the weekend to show my support to Alex Thomson who had recently purchased an open60 called 'Sill' and was about to compete in the two-handed Jacque Vabre race from France to Brazil with French sailing legend Rolland Jordan (aka 'Bilo').

At that point I knew very little about the race or the open 60s and the class in which they are governed by IMOCA.
I have to say that after that weekend I was totally blown away by the boats, the skippers and the whole concept of the race, a two-handed blast across the Atlantic on some of the most technical, most powerful boats ever built - and I wanted some of it!

I very clearly remember watching the start gun go off and the boats sail off into the distance and saying to myself “you need to do this race and you need to work your ass off to get to this level.”

For the five years since that weekend, I have been focussing solely on that goal - sailing and working on, and even helping to build - Open 60s and now I have finally got the opportunity to compete in this race. For which I am very grateful.

I am under no illusions that this race will be a big step up for me not to mention the biggest race of my career so far. For that reason I am slightly anxious but I'm mostly excited, and now I can’t help but show that excitement, every time I think about the race I just can’t help smiling.

I am looking forward to racing with Alex for whom I have known for ten years, and feel privileged to be racing on such a great boat that has been such a big part of my life for the past 3 years in particular, and of course flying the flag for Hugo Boss.