Alex Thomson reveals toughest challenges of Vendee Globe

The 42-year-old spent 74 days at sea and said during a question and answer session in Gosport on Saturday that the most he slept at one time was just an hour.

He says: ‘I probably slept on average four-and-a-half hours a day from 30 to 60-minute naps.

‘It makes you tired and being tired makes you grumpy. I have to thank my team for putting up with the grumpiness.’

Alex also revealed that despite the race being solo, he ensured he spoke to his team and family via a satellite phone.

He adds: ‘I can pick up the phone any time I like and I do.

‘I speak to family and friends quite a lot but it doesn’t always work. The satellite dish onboard needs to be able to point at the satellite but in the middle of the ocean you can spend days without any communication.’

He also told the crowds he made sure he ate enough as during the last Vendee Globe race he lost 10 per cent of his body weight.