Velux 5 Oceans - Alone-Round the World Yacht Race www.velux5oceans.com - Übersicht 14.01.2007 VELUX 5 OCEANS - Start of Leg 2 High Resolution images available from OnEdition: http://www.w-w-i.com/velux_5_oceans/ Video footage available from APP Broadcast: ftp.velux5oceans.net (User: press / Password: yafr4xap) FREMANTLE DELIVERS A SPECTACULAR SEND-OFF FOR THE VELUX 5 OCEANS Sunshine and spectators, but the Fremantle doctor fails to show At 15:00 on Sunday January 14 (06:00 GMT), the start gun for the second leg of the VELUX 5 OCEANS fired and marked the beginning of one of the longest and toughest legs in solo ocean racing. As temperatures pushed a sweltering 40 degrees Celsius off the coast of Western Australia, the famous Fremantle Doctor failed to deliver its typical sea breeze and the powerful yachts sailed north through the line with southerly winds of around 10 knots. In a tight battle to take the honour, Bernard Stamm (SUI) onboard Cheminées Poujoulat narrowly beat Sir Robin Knox-Johnston (GBR) on Saga Insurance to cross the line first at 15:02, with less than half a boat's length separating the two Open 60s. Coming up behind the leaders, Unai Basurko (ESP) on PAKEA crossed a minute behind, followed by Kojiro Shiraishi (JPN) on Spirit of Yukoh and finally Graham Dalton (NZL) on A Southern Man AGD, all separated by only one minute. A crowd of hundreds came down to the Fremantle Sailing Club to bid goodbye to the brave skippers. In an emotional ceremony, the skippers bid farewell to their loved ones, friends and shore teams before slipping off to face an epic leg of ocean racing that will take these heroes through some of the planet's most desolate and extreme expanses of ocean, round the infamous Cape Horn before finishing 14,200 miles in Norfolk, Virginia (USA). On the start line, just off the north entrance of Fremantle harbour, hundreds of spectator craft filled the calm waters to watch the magnificent ocean racing machines of the VELUX 5 OCEANS up close. Disappointingly, the Fremantle Doctor, who so regularly provides idyllic sailing conditions and wonderful images, failed to show up and the fleet was left with a southerly wind of around 10 knots. Sailing north through the line, none of the skippers chose to fly a spinnaker, with most yachts averaging around 6 knots of speed under full indexsail and headsails. The fleet continued north past the popular tourist beaches of Cottesloe and Swanborne, packed with spectators from Perth and the surrounding areas. Chased by the spectator fleet, Stamm was the first to reach the first turning mark at 16:03. 11 minutes behind, Sir Robin went round, closely followed by Unai Basurko. Hot on their heels was the popular Japanese skipper, who went round the mark with precision and jumped from fourth to second in one easy swoop. The kiwi skipper Dalton rounded 25 minutes later at 16:40. Fotos: onEdition Sir Robin als Zweiter über die Linie Start bei strahlendem Wetter Glückliche Kojiro-Familie Sir Robin ahnt noch nicht sein Pech Bernard Stamm weiter vorn The fleet will then round a mark off City Beach further north and will then be free to turn west and choose their route past the small island of Rottnest, before making their tactical decision for heading south to round Cape Leewin, the second important landmark in their global circumnavigation. The wind is expected to build towards 20 knots and the skippers will then be left with the dilemma of whether to head offshore or stay close to land as they seek to round the tip of Western Australia. The yachts of the VELUX 5 OCEANS are expected to arrive in Norfolk in early March after more than 50 days alone at sea through the deepest stretches of the Southern Ocean. Billed as the Ultimate Solo Challenge, this race saw incredible action and unbelievable drama in the first leg and the second leg, even longer and tougher, should test these skippers to their limits and deliver compelling stories. Follow all the heroes via www.velux5oceans.com . - END - For more information on VELUX 5 OCEANS please visit www.velux5oceans.com , or contact: Tim Kelly RACE PRESS OFFICE: + 44 20 7494 1616 MOBILE: + 61 (0)420 409 848 / + 44 (0)7773 325 533 E: tim.kelly@pitchpr.com About Norfolk, Virginia (USA) Norfolk, which is home to Naval Station Norfolk, the largest military station in the world, can host hundreds of vessels at one time including cruise ships, destroyers and submarines and once made history when it berthed five nuclear aircraft carriers at the same time. The port will provide the skippers and ground crews of the VELUX 5 OCEANS with world class facilities. The City is bordered by the Chesapeake Bay and the Hampton Roads Harbour, one of the most famous sailing areas in the USA which attracts hundreds of thousands of yachts and sailing fanatics to the area every year and has played host to some of the world's major sailing events including the Volvo Ocean Race and the Mount Gay Rum Sailing Week. The situation of the City also makes it an idea venue for the VELUX 5 OCEANS providing unique opportunities to watch the fleet arrive from vantage points on the coast and on the water. www.norfolk.gov Copyright © 1996-2016 - SEGEL.DE