Velux 5 Oceans - Alone-Round the World Yacht Race www.velux5oceans.com - Übersicht 09.05.2007 VELUX 5 OCEANS - Prizegiving Ceremony 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) Audio Interviews available from Premiere Global Services at: ftp://2434403:3044342@ftp.premconf.ie THE velux 5 oceans FINISHES ON A HIGH IN BILBAO Magnificent prizegiving ceremony marks the end of 'The Ultimate Solo Challenge' Six months after the start of the VELUX 5 OCEANS race on October 22, Bilbao hosted the final prizegiving of this classic round the world race at the Palacio de Congresos y Musica in Bilbao on Sunday, officially marking the end of The Ultimate Solo Challenge. The four skippers who successfully completed the race were joined by their teams, families, title sponsor Velux, race organizers Clipper Ventures, numerous journalists and representatives from the City of Bilbao in an evening of celebration. Inaki Azkuna, the Mayor of Bilbao attended the event, commenting, "I am honoured to open the final prizegiving and to have these amazing people with us." One by one the skippers, whose days at sea span between 103 days for the winner Bernard Stamm of Switzerland and 159 days for British sailing legend Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, were received on stage by Race Director David Adams. Tributes were paid to everyone involved in the organisation of the race, from host cities to event organisers, as well as the sponsors and partners and the hard working volunteers across the world. Prizes were first presented by the Mayor of Bilbao for the podium finishers of leg three, before Velux presented the prizes for the overall rankings in the race, based on the combined time of the three ocean legs. Fotos onEdition Gesamtsieger Bernard Stamm dankt Seemännische Kameradschaft über alles Sir Robin ist der eigentliche Held Michael Rasmussen, General Manager Marketing of the Velux Group, presented the race prizes and commented, "123 people have started the race since the first edition in 1982 and only 79 have completed it. We have had a great team working on the race and always knew that the skippers had some serious people to look after them. It is essential in a tough race such as The VELUX 5 OCEANS and it is an amazing accomplishment for our four skippers to be here." As he went on stage to receive his prize as the Race Winner, Swiss skipper Bernard Stamm, who won all three legs onboard his Open 60 yacht CHEMINEES POUJOULAT, also received a local hat from the Basque Country, presented by the Mayor of Bilbao. Accepting his second title, the defending champion added "Going at sea is always a pleasure for me and I won't retire for a long time! I have learnt a lot during the VELUX 5 OCEANS and I have been amazed by the warmth of the Basque people. I have met some great people during this race and it will reindex a great memory for me." Finishing second in the overall ranking, Japanese skipper Kojiro Shiraishi (SPIRIT OF YUKOH) talked about the people who helped him to achieve his dreams. "The best inspiration I have had during this race was Yukoh Tada and I wouldn't be here without him. I am just happy I have met so many inspiring people during this race. Now I would like to educate more Japanese about sailing and teach young Japanese to sail and to achieve their dreams. This is what I have always done." Unai Basurko, the local hero of Bilbao who arrived home on PAKEA just in time to finish third in the race, concluded, "It was an amazing experience for me and I feel much better than I thought I would do. I am now a happy man." Finally sailing legend Sir Robin Knox-Johnston (SAGA INSURANCE), completing another solo round the world race 35 years after he was the first man to ever do it, added, "The best part of the race is here in Bilbao. The friendship and the bound between myself, the skippers and the teams is something invaluable. I never really thought about sailing around the world 35 years after I did it for the first time but I am happy I have done it and I have learnt a lot from it". Double winner of the race, Bernard Stamm, did not want to forget those who couldn't be with them for this special moment. Tim Troy, who fought so bravely to mark the start but never crossed the line, Mike Golding and Alex Thomson, who were in the middle of a dramatic rescue in the Southern Ocean before both retiring from the race, and finally Graham Dalton, still in Norfolk after not being arriving in America in time to make the start of the final leg. The Swiss skipper added "I am happy that I have won the race but at the same time I am sad that all the skippers who were on the start line can't be here with us today to celebrate it. But at the end of the day, what matters is that they are all fine and made it back home with their families. I would like to say thank you to David Adams and all his team who have done a great job and would like to say thank you to Velux and the host towns for making this race happen." During the second leg, Bernard Stamm was also the first skipper to cross the 'Amundsen Gate' and therefore win the Amundsen Trophy, a prize donated by the official time keeper Amundsen Oslo. The Amundsen Trophy was set up to the first skipper to cross the 'Amundsen Gate' located at 163 degrees west longitude. This longitude marks the starting point and route of Roald Amundsen´s expedition to become the first man to reach the South Pole in 1911. The Swiss crossed the longitude of 163W on the 26th January between 11:30 and 12:00 UTC, some 3.5 days ahead of Kojiro Shiraishi. Other prizes awarded included Kojrio Shiraishi accepting the Media Contribution Award for his consistent pictures, TV footage and logs from onboard Spirit of Yukoh. The Japanese adventurer won EUR 5,000 for his efforts over the course of the race. Mike Golding won the Seamanship Award for his dramatic Southern Ocean rescue of Alex Thomson and will receive the Minori Saito Trophy. Ear rings were also given to Unai Basurko and Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, a tradition in the history of the race for skippers who round Cape Horn for the first time as part of this event. Finally, Sir Robin Knox-Johnston won the Harry Mitchell Award. This award was usually given to the winner of Class II, but with no other class outside the Open 60s in this edition of the race, the prize was awarded to the skipper that had taken sailing to a new and broad audience. Harry Mitchell sadly died at sea in the 1994 edition of the race and his family will donate GBP 500 to a maritime charity of Sir Robin's choice. - END - For more information on VELUX 5 OCEANS please visit www.velux5oceans.com , or contact: RACE PRESS OFFICE: + 44 20 7494 1616 Tim Kelly: + 44 (0)7773 325 533 Justine Ozoux: + 44 (0)7824 310 035 E: tim.kelly@pitchpr.com / justine@pitchpr.com About the 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 titles of 'BOC Challenge' and more recently 'Around Alone.' The ultimate in human endeavour, more people have climbed Mount Everest and travelled to the moon, than have completed a solo circumnavigation. In 2006, the race celebrates its 25th Jubilee year and, with new title sponsors, VELUX, is set to be greater than ever before. The 30,000 mile three-leg race is scheduled to begin in Bilbao on 22nd October and will stop in Australia and the USA before returning to Bilbao approximately 6 months later. The introduction of fewer stopovers and shorter preparation times between legs has been specifically introduced to provide a more cost effective global marketing opportunity for entrants and their sponsors. Over the years, the race has consistently attracted a wide spread 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 The VELUX Group VELUX creates better homes by letting daylight and fresh air through the roof. The duct range contains a wide range of roof windows and skylights in many sizes, types and variants as well as a whole family of decoration and sunscreening products, roller shutters, installation products, remote control units and solar panels for installation in the sloping roof. VELUX Technology also supplies original VELUX components to their partners working in the field of roof window sunscreening. VELUX is one the strongest brands in the global building materials sector and is sold around the world. The VELUX Group has production companies in 10 countries and sales companies in nearly 40 countries. The VELUX Group is owned by VKR Holding A/S. VKR Holding A/S is a limited company wholly owned by foundations and family. The VELUX Group's financial results are incorporated into VKR Holding's consolidated accounts. In 2006, VKR Holding's turnover amounted to Euro 2.2 billion and profit after tax came to Euro 249 million. In the VELUX Group, results are achieved through united effort. Our core values are commitment, mutual respect, improvements, local initiatives and thoroughness. At the beginning of 2005, some 8,500 people were employed in the VELUX Group. www.VELUX.com About Clipper Ventures Plc This year marks the 37th 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, is focussed 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, the VELUX 5 OCEANS, and Zapcat Racing, the world's largest one-design powerboat series. www.clipper-ventures.com About Bilbao (Basque Country) Set in the province of Bizkaia, the City of Bilbao, in a joint initiative with the Diputacion Foral de Bizkaia and the Basque Government, has committed to be the official host port for both the start and finish of the 2006/7 VELUX 5 OCEANS. Bilbao is the economic capital of the Basque country in the north of the Iberian Peninsula and has historically strong ties to the oceans. Renowned for its spectacular Guggenheim Museum and having recently undergone significant urban regeneration and development, the city will provide an outstanding backdrop for the race. The race will be based in a new marina and waterfront development at the Port of Getxo, which is linked directly to the city by a new metro system designed by Norman Foster. www.bilbao.net / www.bizkaia.net Copyright © 1996-2016 - SEGEL.DE