The Global Ocean Race 2011-12 can now announce a sixth double-handed entry with British professional yachtsman, Alex Alley, signing-up for the circumnavigation.

Alex – who celebrates his 39^th birthday next month – has a long and diverse background in inshore and offshore racing. With Ocean Yachtmaster and RYA Instructor qualifications, he has represented the UK in the 1 Tonner Class, completed a round-the-world race as watch leader on board Team Stelmar in the 2004-05 Global Challenge, campaigned a Mini 6.50 and, most recently, joined Nicko Brennan – navigator from Team Stelmar - on Class 40, Palanad II, for the second leg of the Les Sables–Horta–Les Sables Race taking fourth place overall and missing a podium position by just 39 minutes (view on board video from the race here).

When not earning a living as paid crew racing inshore and offshore, Alex runs VMG, a company providing motivational, leadership and team development programs and has found time to write a fascinating book, Boat To Boardroom, on the leadership lessons learnt during the 2004-05 Global Challenge. “I can’t do just sitting around,” explains Alley who has just returned from a walk across England with his girlfriend. “We had a bit of spare time, so we grabbed a couple of rucksacks, some walking boots and two sleeping bags and spent 12 days walking 200 miles through the Lake District and the Yorkshire Moors, right across the country,” he says. “Neither of us can sit still for very long.”

For Alex, the Global Ocean Race 2011-12 is a good fit for a competitive and financially achievable race around the world. “Ten years ago, I would have tried to get into IMOCA Open 60s,” he comments. “But now, this is the race I really want to win. I love offshore racing, the adrenaline and the weather you get offshore you just don’t get that sort of sailing inshore,” adds Alex. “Round-the-cans racing is a very different thing with a very different skill set involved. I just get a bit bored with it sometimes: a quick blast round the cans for two or three hours, then you come back and have a shower and a pint and I always want to keep going. That’s what I like. I just want to get out there!”

While Alex is currently in strong negotiations with a sponsor for his Global Ocean Race campaign, he has devised a way to help fund the project and has founded The People’s Boat: a system where supporters can buy an individual or group of 5cm x 5cm pixels or ‘tiles’ on the hull or sails of his Class 40 and display branding, text and images that will be carried 33,000 miles around the planet. Learn more about The People’s Boat here. With plans to purchase a Class 40 early next year, Alley is also looking for a co-skipper. “I’m looking for someone who is a carbon copy of me,” he explains. “I want another one of me on the boat. To drive the boat hard when it needs pushing and know the right time to back off the pace.”

With 719 days remaining to the start of the Global Ocean Race 2011-12 on 11^th September 2011, six confirmed entries at such an early stage is very encouraging. "Our latest race entry is a very exciting project,” comments the event’s Race Director, Josh Hall. “Alex has the drive, talent and tenacity to excel in the Global Ocean Race 2011-12 and his funding programme is an example of just how resourceful he is - a key trait for racing a sailboat around the world.” Alex now joins the international entries already signed-up for the starline: Adrian Kuttel from South Afrcia; Patrice Carpentier from France; the Dutch solo sailor Nico Budel and two entries from the USA and UK who wish to remain anonymous while their projects develop. “We welcome Alex to our expanding list of confirmed entries,” adds Hall. “And we look forward to hearing which co-skipper he finds that can keep up with him!"