Please select your home edition
Edition
Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show 2026

Vendee Globe – Thomson sails past the most remote place on Earth

by Alex Thomson Racing on 20 Dec 2016
Alex Thomson (Hugo Boss) - Vendée Globe Cleo Barnham Hugo Boss
British sailor Alex Thomson has sailed past Point Nemo, the most remote point on planet earth.

Point Nemo, also known as the oceanic pole of inaccessibility, is the farthest point from land on our planet. Located within the Southern Pacific ocean between New Zealand and South America, the nearest landmass is 1,670 miles away. The remoteness of Point Nemo means that the nearest humans to Thomson and the Vendee Globe fleet are the astronauts in the International Space Station.

Thomson’s next milestone is Cape Horn, an infamous landmark in offshore racing where he will leave the ferocious Southern Ocean and re-enter the Atlantic Ocean. Rounding Cape Horn marks the point where the fleet turn their bows north again towards the finish line in Les Sable d’Olonne, France.

Thomson is still in second place racing against Frenchman Armel Le Cleac’h with 507.7 nautical miles between them.

Thomson has completed 64% of the race and is determined to be the first British skipper to win the race, which could take in the region of 80 days to complete.
North Sails Loft 57 PodcastAllen SailingMarkSetBot

Related Articles

SailGP Rio: Tight at the top - Day 1
USA continues their excellent form of Season 6 - in second overall after four races. The Bonds Flying Roos lead the fleet with 28 points after the opening four fleet races of the Enel Rio Sail Grand Prix. A red-hot U.S. SailGP Team is close behind in second (27 points), while Artemis SailGP Team round out the podium group.
Posted on 11 Apr
Tom Slingsby reveals all including his next Cup
Interview: America's Cup winner, Olympic Gold medalist, and multiple SailGP Grand Final winner America's Cup winner, Olympic Gold medalist, and multiple SailGP Grand Final winner, Tom Slingsby spoke recently at Sydney's Double Bay Sailing Club.
Posted on 11 Apr
2026 Cannes Malta Race announced
Connecting two of the Mediterranean's most celebrated sailing destinations The Royal Malta Yacht Club (RMYC) and the Cannes Yacht Club have announced the launch of the 2026 Cannes Malta Race, a compelling offshore event that connects two of the Mediterranean's most celebrated sailing destinations.
Posted on 11 Apr
Vaikobi Full Zip Hooded Towel
Not your average beach poncho Vaikobi's Hooded Change Towels are designed for those who don't stop when conditions turn.
Posted on 10 Apr
USA 18ft Skiff Challenge - a brief history
2026 saw first US competitor at JJ Giltinan World Championship since 2019 The participation of Mikey Radziejowski, David Liebenberg and Daniel Roberts at the 2026 JJ Giltinan Championship marked the return of a USA competitor at the championship for the first time since Katie Love skippered Panasonic Lumix in 2019.
Posted on 10 Apr
Three new 52 SUPER SERIES teams
Among the 14 boats starting the season at Puerto Portals When the five regatta 2026 52 SUPER SERIES season starts there will be three new teams among the 14 boats representing 11 different nations competing on the legendary Bay of Palma at Puerto Portals 52 SUPER SERIES Sailing Week.
Posted on 10 Apr
60th OK Dinghy World Rankings
Nick Craig back on top Nick Craig has returned to the top of the OK Dinghy World Ranking List for the first time in two years. He replaces Andy Davis, who drops to second with former World No.1 Patric Mure remaining in third.
Posted on 10 Apr
Pallas Capital Gold Cup Resumes: Matador the Mark
The TP52 Australia fleet returns to racing this weekend The TP52 Australia fleet returns to racing this weekend, with the Super 40s sitting this one out. After a commanding run through the opening stages of the season, Matador TP52 has established itself as the benchmark.
Posted on 10 Apr
An action-packed 2026 season ahead for IMOCA
With five races including the Vendée Arctique, The Ocean Race Atlantic and the Route du Rhum Antoine Mermod, the President of the IMOCA Class, is looking forward to what will be his ninth season at the helm of the world's most exciting offshore ocean racing class, and says 2026 is going to be another action-packed year.
Posted on 10 Apr
Hobie Week Exmouth rescheduled
As the town focuses on rebuilding and recovery after Cyclone Narelle The first Hobie Week Exmouth was due to be held in April 2026 with a full week of sailing, social activities and local touring. A bucket list destination and a Hobie sailing event not to miss.
Posted on 9 Apr