Thomson has bought the IMOCA 60 Banque Populaire, following the team’s withdrawal from the next Vendée Globe 2024 due to the controversy over dropping skipper Clarisse Crémer.
5 West Ltd, represented by Alex Thomson, has reached an agreement to purchase the IMOCA 60 owned by Team Banque Populaire. pic.twitter.com/7ZEqdyTgUq
— Alex Thomson Racing (@ATRacing99) March 21, 2023
The boat has been without a skipper since Banque Populaire parted ways with Clarisse Cremer in February.
Clarisse Cremer, finished 12th in the last edition, claimed she has been effectively banned from entering the race because she had became a mother.
🔵 Le Team Banque Populaire a conclu un accord de vente de son IMOCA avec la société 5 West Ltd représentée par A. Thomson, pour un projet qui permettrait à un prochain skipper de participer au Vendée Globe. La Banque de la Voile leur souhaite de réussir dans ce nouveau défi.
— Voile Banque Populaire (@VoileBanquePop) March 21, 2023
Banque Populaire said on Twitter that the sale had been agreed “as part of a project that would allow a future skipper to participate in the Vendee Globe aboard this boat”.
Alex Thomson came second in the 2016/2017 race said in 2021 that he would not compete in the 2024 race, preferring to manage his team.
