Five Gruelling Ocean Sprints Around the Planet
The route of the next VELUX 5 OCEANS in 2010-11 has been confirmed.
The route of the next VELUX 5 OCEANS in 2010-11 was announced today, 9 December, in Paris. The new version of the classic solo ocean race will consist of five gruelling ocean sprints, compared to three in the last race. Along the way the solo sailors will cross five treacherous oceans and visit five different continents. The route will take the solo sailors on a 30,000 mile long and dangerous journey starting in La Rochelle (Europe) then going on to Cape Town (Africa), Wellington (New Zealand), Salvador (South America), Charleston (North America) before returning to Europe and La Rochelle.
"As title sponsor we are very happy with the new format of the race. This route shows that VELUX 5 OCEANS is a truly global sporting event that reaches out to our customers and colleagues all over the world. At the same time, it offers VELUX companies opportunities to meet with business partners and nurture relations with other key stakeholders," says Michael K. Rasmussen CMO VELUX.
David Adams, Race Director of VELUX 5 OCEANS, added:
"We are delighted to have returned to the traditional format of five ocean sprints, and are very fortunate to have found such strong support with partners in La Rochelle, Cape Town, Wellington, Salvador and Charleston. This route is perfect for sponsors, and offers great opportunities for international media, hospitality and promotions in some of the world's most spectacular harbour cities."
In Paris, VELUX also announced that the company has committed itself to providing a prize fund for the skippers of €500,000 - one of the biggest on the Open 60 circuit.
"The skippers are the heroes of this race and we are delighted to make €500,000 available as the prize fund in VELUX 5 OCEANS 2010-11. This is one of the largest pots of prize money on the Open 60 circuit ever. We hope it will help attract a wide and strong field of the most charismatic skippers on the planet and at the same time encourage strong and healthy competition," says Michael K. Rasmussen.
Facts about the new race route:
- Cape Town ocean sprint: 7,500 nautical miles from La Rochelle (France) to Cape Town (South Africa), starting 17 October 2010
- Wellington ocean sprint: 7,000 nautical miles from Cape Town (South Africa) to Wellington (New Zealand)
- Salvador ocean sprint: 7,400 nautical miles from Wellington (New Zealand) to Salvador (Brazil)
- Charleston ocean sprint: 4,000 nautical miles from Salvador (Brazil) to Charleston (USA)
- La Rochelle ocean sprint: 3,600 nautical miles from Charleston (USA) to La Rochelle (France).
VELUX 5 OCEANS – the ultimate solo challenge
The VELUX 5 OCEANS is the oldest and most established, single-handed, round-the-world yacht race. With a rich sporting heritage, the race has been contested every four years since 1982, previously under the names of BOC Challenge and more recently Around Alone. The VELUX 5 OCEANS demands the ultimate in human endeavour; the number of people who have climbed Mount Everest or travelled to the moon by far exceeds those who have completed a solo circumnavigation.
In 2006, the race celebrated its 25th anniversary and established a special partnership with the title sponsor VELUX. Over the years, the race has consistently attracted a wide array of entries from around the globe, making heroes of many celebrated yachtsmen and women, including Mike Golding, Philippe Jeantot, Giovanni Soldini, Jean-Luc van den Heede, Isabelle Autissier, Bernard Stamm and Emma Richards.
www.velux5oceans.com
About VELUX
VELUX creates better living environments with daylight and fresh air through the roof. Our product range contains a wide assortment of roof windows and skylights, as well as systems for flat roofs. In addition, VELUX offers many types of decoration and sun screening, roller shutters, installation products, products for remote control and thermal solar panels for roof installation. With manufacturing companies in ten countries and sales companies in just under 40, VELUX is one of the strongest brands in the global building materials sector and its products are sold in most parts of the world. The VELUX Group has around 10,000 employees and is owned by VKR Holding A/S, a limited company wholly owned by foundations and family.
For more details, visit www.velux.com
About Clipper Ventures Plc
This year marks the 39th anniversary of Sir Robin Knox-Johnston's historic solo and non-stop circumnavigation in 1970. Now, as Chairman of Clipper Ventures PLC, he is at the forefront of promoting round the world yacht racing. Clipper Ventures, the marine sports company founded in 1995 and listed on AIM stock market in London in 1999, specialises in developing and promoting major events capable of attracting significant participation, income, media coverage and associated sponsorship revenue. The company owns the rights to the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race, the VELUX 5 OCEANS, and Zapcat Racing, the world's largest one-design powerboat series.
www.clipper-ventures.com