Press Release - David Thomson

PRESS RELEASE 25 Nov. 09
British yachtsman, Alex Alley, was the sixth entry to sign-up for the Global Ocean Race 2011-12 and while the total number of confirmed entries now stands at nine Class40s, Alex is the second team to formally announce a co-skipper for the circumnavigation. Earlier this week, he verified that Gosport based, offshore sailor, David Thomson, will be co-skipper in The People’s Boat campaign (http://www.peoplesboat.com/).
Thomson competed in the Portimão Global Ocean Race 2008-09 taking third place in the double-handed class with Jeremy Salvesen, an adventurer and entrepreneur, on the Akilaria Class40, Team Mowgli. “David has just got back to me and said ‘Let’s do it’,” explained Alex on Tuesday. There were two potential co-skippers, but the choice of Thomson was fairly straightforward. “The reason I chose David was due to his immense Class40 experience,” explains Alex. “He’s also like me and he’s in it to get a result and do very well. We’re not planning to cruise around,” assures Alley.
Thomson – aged 34, five years younger than Alley – has very broad experience as a professional racer, sailing teacher and project manager. He has broken several world speed records as crew on the maxi-catamaran Playstation, competed in the America's Cup and Classic British Yacht Regattas and has also sailed on many of the latest generation IMOCA Open 60s, including Hugo Boss currently being campaigned by his brother, Alex. Added to the enormous number of offshore miles logged in the Portimão Global Ocean Race, this accumulated knowledge will be invaluable on board the duo’s Class40. “David has all the right experience and I’m happy to go to sleep and let him drive the boat and I know that he’ll make the right decisions while I’m asleep and I’m certain he feels the same way about me,” confirms Alley.
For Thomson, the partnership with a sailor who has extensive and diverse experience racing Global Challenge yachts, Mini 6.50s and Class40s presents a second opportunity to race around the planet. "The Portimão Ocean Race was challenging, but fun and exhilarating,” says Thomson, who is currently based in the USA working with David de Rothschild’s conservation campaign on board the recycled plastic catamaran, Plastiki (http://www.theplastiki.com/). “I am looking forward to repeating this experience in the Global Ocean Race and working in a competitive team,” he adds. “Alex has proven successful as an offshore sailor and enjoys the adventure that racing a Class40 brings as much as I do."
Race Director, Josh Hall is particularly pleased to welcome Thomson back for the second edition of the race. “David is a fantastic offshore sailor with a wealth of experience and this duo will be a formidable entry in the race. It is very rewarding for us all that we have yet another sailor from the 2008-09 event returning for the next race,” he said. “On a personal note, David is a close friend and I am delighted that he will be competing again as we will get to spend some more time with an exceptionally good guy!”