Alex Thomson Racing has announced the completion of a new racing yacht, the 18.28 metre IMOCA 60 racing yacht Hugo Boss. The team hopes, the vessel will lead them to victory in the 2020-21 Vendée Globe round-the-world race. 



The carbon fibre model was designed by Alex Thomson Racing in collaboration with French naval architects VPLP, being the product of more than two years of design and build work.

Named after title partner Hugo Boss, IMOCA 60 was built by Jason Carrington close to the team’s Gosport headquarters in Hampshire. The build itself began back in June 2018 and has involved more than 50,000 hours of specialist construction.



Hugo Boss, the name carried by all six of the team’s previous IMOCA boats, weighs 7.6 tonnes and features state-of-the-art hydrofoils. The boat’s deck and coach roof, meanwhile, feature solar panelling, an addition that should allow it to achieve an ambition of sailing around the world without the use of fossil fuels.



The boat’s black carbon hull with a significantly streamlined bow has now been made public. The hull’s glossy black finish has been conceived to echo the sleek brand identity of Hugo Boss. Boss’ brand logo has been of silver carbon fibre has been embedded into the hull itself.



The distinctive black hull is in stark contrast to accents of fluorescent pink which can be seen across the boat’s coach roof, keel and rudder. Devised by Industrial Designer Karim Rashid the bespoke fluro tone has been applied to IMOCA class for a first time.

Stewart Hosford, CEO of Alex Thomson Racing, has commented:
This sport is no longer just about qualified naval architecture and competent ocean racing. It’s a design and engineering challenge at the highest level. It’s about bringing together the best in the world in every single area, in the relentless pursuit of excellence, of perfection.
Thomson and his team will now undertake a period of on-water commissioning and testing before the official launch and christening in September. From there, the boat will debut in the double-handed Transat Jacques Vabre race in October 2019 before Thomson undertakes his first solo race in the New York to Vendée in June 2020, the penultimate race in the IMOCA calendar before the Vendée Globe in November 2020.



Meanwhile, Alex Thomson remains the youngest skipper to win a round-the-world yacht race after triumphing in the 1998/1999 Clipper Round-the-World race.

Hugo Boss AG engages in the design, manufacture, and sale of clothing and accessories. The company with headquarteres in Metzingen, Germany was founded by Hugo Ferdinand Boss in 1924. Their product range comprises children's wear, sportswear, shoes, leather accessories, fragrances, watches, and eyewear. According to the company’s reports, during fiscal year 2018 their sales made EUR 2,796,000.

Photos via @AlexThomsonRacing

Latest News

New Benetti Oasis 34 Motor Yacht Listed for Sale
The newly delivered Benetti Oasis 34 motor yacht Y has entered the brokerage market with Mark Seaton of Yacht. The 34.4-meter vessel was delivered in May 2025 and remains under full shipyard warranty. Currently berthed at Benetti’s shipyard in Viareggio, Italy, the yacht is available for immediate delivery.Designed by RWD, the Oasis 34M series features a distinctive Oasis Deck with fold-down bulwarks, a glass-sided infinity pool, and a spacious beach club area. The yacht’s streamlined profile, extended overhangs, and open-plan layout reflect Benetti’s approach to indoor-outdoor living.The interior design, created by Bonetti/Kozerski Architecture of New York, combines warm greys and natural tones with contemporary elements. The accommodation includes five staterooms for up to 10 guests, with a full-beam owner’s suite on the main deck and four guest cabins below. The crew quarters can accommodate seven staff members.The 269 GT yacht is powered by twin 1,380hp MTU diesel engines, providing a top speed of 16 knots and a cruising speed of 14.5 knots. The vessel sails under the Marshall Islands flag. The asking price for the yacht is €17,500,000, excluding VAT. It represents the only Benetti Oasis 34M from 2025 currently available on the market worldwide. The vessel was built under the supervision of experienced owners and a leading maritime consultancy, ensuring high-quality construction and finishing.Credits: Yacht Harbour Archive
IPYD Studio Unveils 80m AETHER Concept for Oceanco's Simply Custom Range
Athens-based design studio IPYD has revealed Aether, an 80-meter superyacht concept developed for Oceanco's Simply Custom platform. The design features triangular geometric motifs throughout its exterior, referencing concepts of balance and harmony from ancient Greek philosophy.Presented at the 2023 Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, Aether joins Oceanco's portfolio of semi-custom concepts built on a standardized technical platform by Lateral Naval Architects. Initial renderings show a continuous exterior profile with an open-plan beach club featuring spa facilities and lounge areas.The Simply Custom range offers owners design flexibility while utilizing pre-engineered naval architecture. Aether follows previous concepts including Ani by Vallicelli Design and Dunes by the Touch Studio. Oceanco has not disclosed construction timelines or technical specifications for the Aetherconcept.Oceanco was founded in 1987. Right now it is a world-class builder of custom superyachts up to the 140 meters range. Oceanco works with world-known designers such as Terence Disdale, Nuvolari-Lenard, Espen Oeino, Sam Sorgiovanni, Igor Lobanov, Tim Heywood and Andrew Winch to create some of the timeless and award-winning yachts afloat today.Credits: IPYD
Pershing GTX80 Begins East Coast Tour from New York to Hamptons
The Pershing GTX80 has docked at Manhattan's North Cove Marina, marking the start of its East Coast tour celebrating Pershing's 40th anniversary. The 24-meter Sport Utility Yacht will visit Montauk (July 1) and Newport (July 12) before concluding in the Hamptons.The tour showcases Pershing's performance-oriented design combining speed and onboard comfort. The GTX80 series features an open layout with 370 square meters of living space across three decks, powered by twin 1,550hp MAN V12 engines reaching 35 knots.Allied Marine is coordinating the tour, with updates available through Pershing's social media channels. The itinerary highlights the yacht's coastal cruising capabilities along the Atlantic seaboard.The Ferretti Group, led by Chief Executive Officer Alberto Galassi, is now one of the world’s leaders in the construction and sale of luxury yachts and pleasure vessels, with a unique portfolio of brands: Ferretti Yachts, Riva, Pershing, Itama, Mochi Craft, CRN, Custom Line and Wally.Credits: Ferretti Group
38m Tri-Deck Launched by Hargrave in Antalya
Hargrave Superyachts has launched its new 38-meter tri-deck motor yacht, the Hargrave 125, from its Antalya, Turkey facility. The vessel, designated Project 125, will debut at the 2025 Cannes Yachting Festival.With a 7.92-meter beam and 1.95-meter draft, the Bahamas-compliant design features a displacement hull optimized for long-range cruising. Stabilization systems operate both at anchor and underway. The 330GT interior maintains 2.2-meter ceiling heights throughout its 10-guest, 7-crew configuration.Power comes from twin Caterpillar C32 main engines with matching 75kW generators, delivering a 17-knot cruising speed. An ASEA power converter ensures global shore power compatibility. The yacht carries a 10-year structural warranty and equivalent coverage for main mechanical components.Hargrave includes a six-month management package with each sale. The vessel remains available for inspection ahead of its Cannes showing.Credits: Hargrave Custom Yachts
Porto Cervo Hosts 2025 Swan One Design World Championships
The Yacht Club Costa Smeralda is hosting the 2025 Swan One Design Worlds from June 17-21, featuring 35 teams from 30 nations competing across four one-design classes. The event marks the competitive debut of the ClubSwan 28 class alongside established ClubSwan 36, 42 and 50 fleets."The Swan One Design Worlds highlight the energy and camaraderie of the ClubSwan family," said Luisa Bambozzi, Managing Director of ClubSwan Racing. "Porto Cervo provides the ideal setting to combine world-class racing with vibrant shoreside activities."The regatta features defending champions in multiple classes, including Mamao (ClubSwan 36) and Nadir (ClubSwan 42). Notable entries include Leonardo Ferragamo's Cuordileone and Marcus Brennecke's Hatari in the ClubSwan 50 division. The newly introduced ClubSwan 28 class will compete for its first Gold Cup, with seven teams including youth entry NOX OCEANI featuring 13-year-old helmsman Giorgio Nocella.Giovanni Pomati, CEO of Nautor Swan, emphasized the event's community aspect: "This regatta represents the unity and international spirit that defines the ClubSwan family." The competition schedule allows for eight races per class (ten for ClubSwan 28), with Mistral winds expected for the final racing days.Social events include class dinners and an owners' reception at YCCS, culminating in Saturday's prize ceremony. The ClubSwan Academy continues its youth development program, providing young sailors access to competitive racing platforms.Nautor Swan was founded in 1966 in Pietarsaari, Finland. The builder entered the superyacht market in 1999. Since then, the yard has continued building high-performance sailing yachts in three different lines; ClubSwan, Swan Yachts and Maxi Swan Yachts. Credits: Nautor Swan