Scuttlebutt Photos:

Hugo Boss - Training for the Vendée Globe 2004

Of all the current five round-the-world yacht races, only two are single-handed, and the Vendée Globe is the only non-stop event. Held every 4 years from the port of Les Sables d'Olonne in the Vendée region on the western coast of France, this 26,000-mile solo marathon around the globe is renowned as the 'Everest' of the sport of sailing.

The following are some photos of Alex Thomson and his Open 6O named Hugo Boss (formerly known as Sill), which has just come out of the shed after a major refit. Here we get an idea of what life is like during a 35-40 knot day, with boat speeds in the mid-twenties. Photos by Jon Nash Photography.