HUGO BOSS sponsored heavyweight champion boxer lent his ballast and muscle to British skipper, Alex Thomson and the crew of the Open 60 HUGO BOSS today when he joined them for a day of sailing around the Kiel Week Regatta, Germany. At 6ft 5’’ and weighing in at 238 lbs/110 kilos Alex felt that he would be the ideal candidate to hoist up his 100 kilo sail, 25 metres up the mast.

Wladimir Klitschko rose to the occasion but even he was no match against the bulk of HUGO BOSS’ enormous black mainsail and eventually he had to concede and wind the rope around the winch to grind it up the mast.

There was no rest for Wladimir no sooner had he hoisted the mainsail then he was then hoisted up to the top of the 25metre mast himself.

Both Alex and Wladimir are sponsored by clothing company HUGO BOSS and both fight their competitors alone; Wladimir in the ring and Alex Thomson against the elements. Wladimir was in awe of the phenomenal speed the racing yacht could reach, surfing down waves at up to 30mphs and also the dedication and psychological commitment that is required to undertake long distance, offshore solo sailing.

Alex was amazed by Wladimir’s mast climbing skills.

“When he climbed the mast he just used his arms and went up effortlessly. I have to climb with my arms and my legs! He is welcome on my boat anytime but I definitely wouldn’t accept an invitation to join him in the ring!” said Alex.

The sun shone gloriously down on HUGO BOSS which was awash with television crews, photographers and journalists. Alex and Wladimir chatted about their mutual love of extreme sports, Wladimir in his spare time enjoys kitesurfing he often jumps to dizzy heights of 15 metres and this explains why he climbed the mast with fearless enthusiasm. Alex a keen waterskier and wakeboarder was explaining his plans to wakeboard off the back of the Open 60 sometime in the summer.

“Wladimir is a natural sailor and loved being the ‘Captain’. It was great when the wind filled in and we were able to cut through fleets. It doesn’t take much to get HUGO BOSS going.” Said Alex.

Wladimir Klitschko is the process of arranging a world championship title fight in order to fulfil his dream of both him and his brother holding a world champion title at the same time but we are hoping that he will join Alex and his crew for a spot of racing sometime in the future so that he can experience HUGO BOSS yacht with her pedal to the metal.

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