Jersey sailor sets out new mission to 'clean up' in ocean racing

Jersey sailor Phil Sharp has announced a new four-year campaign which would see him compete in the Vendee Globe round-the-world race in 2024.

The 38-year-old, who won back-to-back Class 40 championships in 2018 and 2019, plans to develop a new boat to compete in the IMOCA Globe Series, culminating in the prestigious event.

His hope is to create a boat to challenge for honours in the world's biggest yacht races, but also demonstrate zero-carbon fuel technologies in the process.

The planned state-of-the-art vessel, featuring the latest foiling design and clean energy technology, would replace his current Class 40 - now called OceansLab - which will be run for the final time in the The Transat next year.

Sharp sealed his second Class 40 championship victory with third in last year's transatlantic Route du Rhum. Credit: ITV Channel TV

  • Watch Tony Curr's report from the start of the 2018 Route du Rhum in Saint-Malo