TV & PHOTO ALERT - FREE OF RIGHTS IMAGES

British yachtsman Alex Thomson took the runner-up spot in the Vendée Globe to become the solo round-the-world race's second-fastest sailor ever.

Thomson, 42, set out to become the first Brit ever to win the Vendée Globe but following an epic battle with French skipper Armel Le Cléac'h missed out on the top spot by just shy of 16 hours. The skipper of Hugo Boss crossed the finish line at 0737 UTC in a time of 74 days, 19 hours, 35 minutes and 15 seconds in one of the closest finishes ever in the race's 27-year history. Although Thomson had to settle for second place his time also supersedes the previous record of 78 days 2 hours 16 minutes set by French sailor François Gabart in the 2012-13 edition.

The result makes him the most successful non-French skipper in the history of the race.

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VIDEOS ALERTS
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HUGO BOSS ARRIVAL #1 VI - 4 min 49 sec crossing the finish line

HUGO BOSS ARRIVAL #2 VI - 9 min 40 sec ITW pontoon

> Download the videos in HD format directly from the video server (access via the press section).... here

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HOW TO FOLLOW THE RACE
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All of the pictures and programs will also be available on the video server www.vendeeglobe.tv

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