Brian receives Order of Bahrain

Pictures of british sailor Brian Thompson onboard his Open 60 "Bahrain Team Pindar" as he crosses thine finish line of the Vendee Globe 2008 - 2009..Completing the solo around the world non stop yacht race in 98 days, 20hours 29mins and 55sec. Placing him in 5 overall..Please credit all pictures: Lloyd Images

Brian Thompson receives Order of Bahrain
 
Bahrain Team Pindar’s record-breaking yachtsman, Brian Thompson was yesterday awarded the Order of Bahrain, from The King of Bahrain, His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. The prestigious accolade was awarded for Thompson’s historic completion of the solo, non-stop, round-the-world yacht race, the Vendée Globe - the first time a yacht carrying the King’s name and the Kingdom of Bahrain livery, has sailed around the globe.
 
Thompson, who is visiting the Kingdom of Bahrain for the first time since completing his epic voyage in February, was presented to His Majesty at a special reception in Manama, attended by other senior Bahrain representatives, including Labour Minister, His Excellency Dr Al Alawi and Bahrain Team Pindar’s reigning Double ISAF World Match Racing Champion, Ian Williams and Chairman, Andrew Pindar OBE.
 
His Majesty praised Thompson for his outstanding achievement and for promoting the Kingdom of Bahrain to a global audience. He also affirmed the Kingdom's love for water sports, a passion which emanates from its geographic position and deep-rooted heritage with the sea.
 
On receiving the award, Brian commented: “I am immensely proud to receive this award from His Majesty King Hamad. It was an honour and a privilege to sail around the world on a yacht bearing both his name and the national identity of the Kingdom of Bahrain. Throughout the race I received tremendous support from people throughout the Kingdom and this visit has afforded me a wonderful opportunity to thank many of them in person.”
 
On November 9, 2008, Thompson embarked on the biggest race of his career. Alongside many of the best solo sailors in the world, he set sail from Les Sables d’Olonne on the West Coast of France on his first ever solo circumnavigation. Known as the 'Everest of the Seas', the 28,000 mile Vendée Globe race lived up to its reputation as one of the world's toughest sporting challenges.  Just 11 of the original 30 boats completed the voyage and after a total of 98 days at sea, Thompson returned to a hero’s welcome, finishing in fifth place.
 
One of the most accomplished sailors in the world and with 25 world records to his name, Brian's vast offshore experience proved invaluable. He overcame all that the race threw at him, including a series of difficult boat repairs, a brutal mast climb, the treacherous Southern Ocean waves, winds of over 60 knots and one of the biggest storms of the race.
 
Speaking after a press conference held at the Bahrain National Stadium earlier today, Chairman of Bahrain Team Pindar, Andrew Pindar OBE commented: “The reception we have received in Bahrain has been overwhelming and we are extremely excited by a collective enthusiasm to develop a longer term sailing programme in Bahrain. With His Majesty’s blessing and in conjunction with our friends Sheikh Fawaz at the GOYS (General Organization of Youth and Sport) and Sheikh Khalid Al Khalifa at the BMSA (British Maritime Sports Association) we hope to use our combined experience to help develop world class watersport facilities, inspire a new generation of champions and make the seas accessible for sailors of all abilities.”
 
Bahrain Team Pindar ambassadors Brian Thompson and Ian Williams will return to Bahrain late this month for the inaugural Bahrain Boat Show at Amwaj Marina from 21-25 April, 2009.