Promising outlook for second title sponsorship of VELUX 5 OCEANS

After a successful partnership in 2006/07, the VELUX Group is once more holding the title sponsorship of VELUX 5 OCEANS - renowned as the longest and toughest sailing event in the world.
The VELUX 5 OCEANS is one out of a handful of around the world yacht races, but it is unique in the sense that no other race can match the concept of one skipper racing alone across five grueling ocean sprints with five demanding stops. Last time the event generated in excess of €66million in media value and this time the target is to reach up to €100million.

"This is an ambitious target, and everybody involved have to do their outmost to reach it. But with the latest update on skippers and nationalities we think the prospects of creating another success of VELUX 5 OCEANS is promising," says Chief Marketing Officer, Michael Rasmussen, the VELUX Group.

With one year to race start in La Rochelle, France, nine skippers from seven different na-tions have until now confirmed entries. So far only Canadian offshore racer Derek Hatfield has officially announced his entry. The remaining eight skippers will be announced in the coming weeks and months as they finalise their campaigns.

Sustainability as overall theme
For the upcoming eighth edition of "The Ultimate Solo Challenge", sustainability will um-brella the message of the race. The race organiser Clipper Ventures, the city of La Rochelle and the VELUX Group will all contribute with initiatives and activities to support the sustain-ability agenda.
While Clipper Ventures has introduced the new Eco 60 Class with a focus on sustainability and economic accessibility and La Rochelle is aspiring to be one of France's greenest cities, the VELUX Group is very active within Sustainable Living and seeks to create better living environment for people with daylight and fresh air through the roof. For the festive weekend of the race start, the VELUX Group will showcase a zero energy concept house and have the prize ceremony of the International VELUX Award for students of architecture, with a focus on sustainable living. When the race is on, the skippers will also be involved and numerous sustainable activities will be introduced online for the race followers.

"We are very pleased to see sustainability being part of the race as the VELUX Group is committed to this agenda. We strongly promote the principles of Active House - buildings do not have to be energy consuming at all, they can be energy producing – and internally we have set a goal of reducing our CO2 emission by 50% in 2020," says Michael Rasmussen.

"VELUX 5 OCEANS is a prime global sports event with elements of big adventure and strengths of minds. Therefore it also has the ability to carry the message of fighting climate change along," says Michael Rasmussen.
The race starts October 17 2010 in La Rochelle, France, and after stops in Cape Town (South Africa), Wellington (New Zealand), Salvador (Brazil) and Charleston (South Carolina, USA) it finishes back in La Rochelle in June 2011.

VELUX 5 OCEANS – The Ultimate Solo Challenge
The VELUX 5 OCEANS is the oldest single-handed round the world yacht race. Run every 4 years since 1982, the race is the longest and toughest event for any individual in any sport. The VELUX 5 OCEANS is a series of five high-pressure ocean sprints within a marathon circumnavigation. In the course of the 30,000 mile race, the skippers cross five oceans alone. The next VELUX 5 OCEANS will take place 2010-2011 and promises to reach a global audience as the dramatic stories are followed live across TV, radio, print, Internet and via mobile technology.
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 approx. 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 40th 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, is focused on 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 and the VELUX 5 OCEANS.
www.clipper-ventures.com.