POWER DRESSING

ALEX Thomson is a sailor who has never been afraid to challenge conventions. Be it innovative hull design, application of technology to gain that extra increment of speed or the spectacular trilogy of stunts - The Keel Walk, The Mast Walk and The Sky Walk – each delivered on the impressive IMOCA 60, HUGO BOSS.

Now, with the radical new HUGO BOSS, the British skipper and his team have their sights set on victory in the Vendée Globe 2020.

Challenging convention When Alex Thomson Racing contacted Zhik in 2019 about their upcoming Vendée Globe campaign, it quickly became apparent that there were many synergies between the sailing team and the Australian performance clothing brand.

Set up by Brian Connelly, who felt that the sailing clothing of the late 90s needed a complete rethink, Zhik found success with top dinghy sailors through radically re-engineering the design of modern wetsuits. Since the 2004 Olympics, Zhik has become one of the go to brands for Olympic teams, America’s Cup racers, performance sailors and youth sailors.

Subsequently expanding into the offshore clothing sector, with their own highly durable, three-layer breathable fabrics, Zhik were soon on board with two teams in the Volvo Ocean Race 2017-18.

An unexpected brief Fresh from their success with Volvo Ocean Race winners the Dongfeng Race Team, Zhik’s expectation was that the Alex Thomson Racing team would require similar levels of extreme ocean protection.

However, once again, convention was put to one side. Even the Zhik team were surprised when, at the fi rst meeting, it was made clear that whilst the boat design was fi rmly under wraps, Alex would not be needing full ocean foul weather gear as he would mostly be below deck.

Instead, the ambition was for lighter gear for Alex to wear day in and day out, across a wide range of temperature and humidity differences. Weight, breathability and enduring comfort were critical factors. Yet the garments had to provide full waterproof protection in case Alex has to go up on deck in the extremes of the Southern Ocean, as well as be comfortable in the more temperate zones.

Light foul weather gear With the radical design of the new HUGO BOSS and its enclosed cockpit, Alex will wear Zhik’s INS300® range in the Vendée Globe. Designed for professionals and round-the-cans racers, the lightweight shell provides full wet weather protection using Zhik’s Aroshell® fabric technology, a highly breathable, waterproof three-layer fabric.

The INS300 Smock was developed for the intense activity of the Volvo Race team’s inshore races and warm weather legs. Despite its light weight, the fabric is highly durable and is rated two-times more ‘waterproof durable’ than leading brands of ePTFE ocean fabrics.

With soft, comfortable neck and wrist seals, a large, quick-venting neck gusset to get it on and off easily, the stretchy waterproof fabric allows unrestricted agility when moving around on board.

To ensure complete waterproofness, the INS300 Smock is compatible with the Zhik Adaptable Ocean Hood making it fl exible across a wide range of conditions. This DAME award-winning innovation is a separate hood, collar and integrated face visor, also a result of the Volvo race clothing developments. When conditions get extreme, the hood can simply be zipped on to the outside of the garment and removed again when the weather improves.

Made from the same lightweight Aroshell fabric, the INS300 salopettes have a practical full-body, sleeveless design, rather than using braces. Comfortable to wear for long periods, the upper body is made from Avlare®, Zhik’s award-winning water shedding, high stretch, breathable fabric, originally designed for Olympic teams in Rio to cope with intense levels of humidity and heat. Water simply rolls off this wind resistant fabric, which stretches to allow free athletic movement.

Drue Kerr, Zhik’s design and production manager, explained: “The INS300 range features our Aroshell Fabric Technology, which is optimised for extreme levels of breathability and manoeuvrability. On HUGO BOSS, where Alex is frequently transitioning from deck to the cockpit, with large temperature and humidity differences between these environments, breathability is a highly important factor.”

The other unique aspect of Alex’s IMS300 foul weather gear is its high visibility pink colour, exclusively dyed to match the colour scheme of the new IMOCA 60. Despite the amazing enclosed cockpit on board HUGO BOSS, the Vendée course will mean being in the colder latitudes of the Southern Ocean, and starting from the French Atlantic coast during the onset of winter in the Northern Hemisphere.

Zhik’s Superthermal Hydrobase® pants and top have been selected as the base layer for skipper Alex Thomson and his technical team in the lead up to, and during the race itself.

Designed for rapid moisture transfer, this highly effi cient, composite fabric has a unique grid weave of hydrophobic and hydrophilic fi bres, which pass water from the inside to the outer surface. The

We nd out more about Alex Thomson s choice o technical gear or the Vend e lobe 2 2 , which started this month.

weave helps spread the moisture making it particularly quick drying.

Perfect during periods of high activity, such as grinding, moisture vapour is rapidly transferred to the outer side and instantly evaporates, ensuring dry fabric against the skin. High stretch, water repellent cuffs prevent water seepage up the sleeves and a built-in odour control treatment makes life more pleasant for endurance wear.

Managing moisture and weather The Vendée Globe sailors have to navigate through the windless heat of the Doldrums twice during the race, and as they push further south they will be heading into summer again.

For milder and warmer conditions Alex will also be using the ZhikDry LT long sleeve top. Super soft and comfortable to wear, these ultra lightweight tops are made from a fast action, moisture wicking fabric, to keep you cool during activity and hot or humid conditions. Like the Hydrobase, the fabric is treated with an anti-microbial fi nish treatment, as well as UPF 50+ sun protection.

Talking about his gear, Alex Thomson concluded: “We certainly hope that, with the cockpit design on board the new HUGO BOSS, I will be dryer, warmer and more comfortable during this Vendée Globe.

“But those design choices presented some new challenges when it came to technical clothing. With the help of the team at Zhik, we have been able to select a range of technical gear that should be comfortable, breathable and durable – all of which is going to be so important over

Alex Thomson (HUGO BOSS)

Vendée Globe: 5th attempt (2004/05: retired, 2008/2009: retired, 2012/2013: third, 2016/2017: second) Boat: HUGO BOSS (foiling). Launched in 2019, this is a revolutionary boat whose aesthetic lines contrast with anything seen before: a fully closed cockpit, a short deck plan, oversized curved foils and many other innovations.

In the deep south

Images: Alex Thomson Racing

such a long period at sea!”