Around Alone is the greatest mental and physical challenge in any sport.
Only those with the highest proven stamina and mental toughness should enter for what is the ultimate classic ocean race - the ultimate sporting challenge."
Race Chairman, Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, Clipper Ventures plc
Held every four years, Around Alone is the longest race for any individual in any sport, spanning some 28,800 miles of the world's roughest and most remote oceans. Out of the current five round the world yacht races, only Around Alone and the non-stop Vendée Globe are single-handed.
However, Around Alone is the only race that starts and finishes in America, and which, due to its multi-leg structure, boasts the most international field of entries, with 15 countries represented since the race began in 1982.
Single-handed offshore racing has an inherent appeal that no crewed race can offer, as it combines the two powerful elements of high competition and solo human endeavour. Around Alone has a unique format of five tough and demanding legs, which breed intense competition, as the skippers push themselves and their yachts to the limits of endurance and technology. And yet it also brings out a deep camaraderie between the competitors, born out of looking after each other in the oceanic deserts and sharing time together in each port. The Grand Prix structure of Around Alone also provides many peaks of excitement and drama, as well as a unique opportunity for supporters worldwide to witness the event first-hand.
For the 20th anniversary of Around Alone, the race is returning to its original home of Newport, RI (USA), and will be stopping in Europe for the first time. The fleet will assemble at the Newport Shipyard by Sunday 1st September 2002, and leave in the afternoon of Thursday 12th September, on a 160 mile crewed prologue race down to New York, where the boats will arrive the next day and be hosted at the Intrepid Museum, a de-commissioned aircraft carrier docked on the SW side of Manhattan.
Around Alone 2002-03 starts from New York (USA) on Sunday 15th September 2002 as part of 'Sail For America', the one-off tribute taking place in New York Harbor that weekend to commemorate the 1st anniversary of the tragic events of September 11th, and takes the fleet to Torbay (England), Cape Town (South Africa), Tauranga (New Zealand) and Salvador da Bahia (Brazil), before returning to Newport in April 2003 seven months later.
Around Alone has made heroes from skippers of previously little renown. Cult French yachtsmen Philippe Jeantot and Christophe Auguin and Italian Giovanni Soldini have all written their names in sailing's history books after winning this prestigious yachting event. The official entry list for Around Alone 2002/3 stands at 18 skippers from 12 different countries, with 7 in Class I, 10 in Class II, and 1 in the 'Venturer' Class.
For media information on Around Alone 2002/3 contact:
Mary Ambler, Media & Race Communications Manager
Tel: +44 (0) 2380 237 088 - Mob: +44 (0) 7887 643 583
Email: mambler@clipper-ventures.com
Visit the official race web site in English and French: http://www.aroundalone.com
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