For Immediate Release: October 27, 2008
Rights-free race images available to download in high-resolution from www.w-w-i.com/velux_5_oceans/
VELUX 5 OCEANS TO START AND FINISH IN LA ROCHELLE
Historic French port to welcome the original solo race around the world
Start Date: October 17, 2010
Clipper Ventures PLC, organisers of the VELUX 5 OCEANS yacht race, are pleased to confirm that the city of La Rochelle (France) will host the start and finish of the original solo ocean race around the world. The news comes two years ahead of the official start date now confirmed as October 17, 2010, which will see The Ultimate Solo Challenge set off from La Rochelle before returning to the historic maritime city in May 2011.
The Race Management is delighted to have secured a partnership with La Rochelle and the agglomeration community following a competitive selection process over the last 12 months since VELUX re-signed as title sponsor. The city has an ideal geographical position for solo skippers to begin their amazing journey around the world, taking on the infamous Bay of Biscay before stopping at different cities throughout Africa, Australasia, South America and North America and then returning to France.
Race Director David Adams commented, “La Rochelle was always our number one target to host the start and finish of the VELUX 5 OCEANS. We wanted to come here as the city and the team on the ground met all of our criteria. It is an historical port city with strong ties to the sea, professional ocean racing and has an ideal geographical position. The skippers of the VELUX 5 OCEANS will benefit from world class dock facilities in the heart of the city and local expertise in all services for preparing racing yachts for this classic event.”
Race Chairman Sir Robin Knox-Johnston concluded, “Legendary skippers from France have shaped the amazing history of the VELUX 5 OCEANS race and yet the event has never started or even visited these shores. We want to establish a close link to France and La Rochelle boasts a number of leading Open 60 sailors. Not only is the city such a beautiful backdrop, but we are also confident that the people of the city and its surrounding community will embrace this event and celebrate the amazing achievements of the competitors of The Ultimate Solo Challenge.”
The VELUX 5 OCEANS start and finish will be supported by the Community of La Rochelle and managed by the team from the Grand Pavois Organisation (GPO), the organisers of one of the most successful annual boats shows in the world. The team has unrivalled experience in hosting major maritime events, from a Volvo Ocean Race stopover to welcoming Le Figaro and now managing the Transat 6.50, Charente Maritime/Bahia.
Maxime Bono, the Deputy Mayor of La Rochelle and President of the agglomeration community of La Rochelle, concluded, “Innovation, performance and reliability are the values that the VELUX 5 OCEANS and La Rochelle share. To state these common values stronger, higher, we wanted to become the port of start and finish of this internationally renowned event. Together we will write a new page in the history of the off race.”
Michael K. Rasmussen, Chief Marketing Officer for VELUX, added, “I am very pleased that this adventurous ocean racing event starts and ends in the port of La Rochelle, France. La Rochelle has hosted big sailing events in the past and VELUX 5 OCEANS adds to this heritage. I am sure that many VELUX customers, employees and fans of The Ultimate Solo Challenge are thrilled with this news"
Further Announcements:
The VELUX 5 OCEANS expects to make further announcements over the coming months on the race route around the world, the fleet structure, registered competitors, the skipper support packages and the communications platform.
The Race Management is pleased to confirm that they are in ongoing discussions with IMOCA regarding the future of the race.
For further information, please contact the Race Director of Communications:
Tim Kelly: + 44 7773 325 533
E: tkelly@velux5oceans.com
VELUX 5 OCEANS – The Ultimate Solo Challenge
THE ORIGINAL
The VELUX 5 OCEANS is the original 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. Single-handed around the world's oceans in thoroughbred racing yachts represents the ultimate odyssey. The ultimate in human endeavour, only 90 people have so far finished the challenge.
THE CONCEPT
The VELUX 5 OCEANS is a series of high-pressure sprints within a marathon circumnavigation. In the course of the 30,000 mile race, the skippers cross five oceans alone, starting in La Rochelle (France) and then sailing to South Africa, Australasia, South America and the United States before returning to the finish in La Rochelle. The various stages and stopovers allow the skippers to push their boats harder and faster over long and diverse legs through some of the planet’s most hostile and treacherous waters. Skippers need to set up their boats for the specific challenges of each leg, such as the light and fluky conditions of the Doldrums versus the fierce winds and seas of the roaring 40's and screaming 50's of the Southern Ocean.
THE CHALLENGE
The solo skipper is the central character of the VELUX 5 OCEANS. These unique individuals must demonstrate determination, skill, courage, endurance and competition at the highest level in order to succeed. The skippers must face the mental challenges of being alone, tired, cold and wet thousands of miles from land. They must endure the physical, physiological and psychological challenges of seven months racing around the world. Each skipper must be navigator, weather guru, cook, sailmaker and computer wizard while racing alone at sea. Although they rejoin family and friends ashore at stopovers, they must wrench themselves away to face the vast oceans alone again.
THE HERITAGE
With a rich sporting heritage, the VELUX 5 OCEANS has been contested every four years since 1982, previously under the titles of ‘BOC Challenge’ and ‘Around Alone’. The race celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2007 when it returned to the forefront of ocean racing as the VELUX 5 OCEANS. Over 25 years, the event has created an enormous sporting heritage of endeavour and achievement, including many peaks of excitement, dramatic rescues and tragic loss of life. The race has consistently attracted competitors from diverse countries around the globe, including Philippe Jeantot, Bernard Stamm, Giovanni Soldini, Isabelle Autissier, Yukoh Tada, Emma Richards, Bertie Reed and Jose Ugarte.
THE FUTURE
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 La Rochelle
For 1,000 years, La Rochelle the "rebel" likes being different: democratic a long time before the rest of France, it is Protestant when the whole France is Catholic; it always innovates and disrupts commonplaces and the city becomes a pioneer as regards urban ecology. Throughout history, La Rochelle shows its difference. It has always been turned toward the sea and has a rich and turbulent past. La Rochelle reindexed bubbly of ideas and events. Boating and sailing races are deeply rooted in La Rochelle’s culture and many events were held in this city where the French boating industry could develop its numerous assets.
Stopovers of the Volvo Ocean Race, of the Global Challenge, of the Clipper Race, start city of the Transat 6.50 Charente-Maritime/Bahia, commemoration the 400th anniversary of the discovery of Quebec, International In-water Boat Show... a multiplicity of events that ranked La Rochelle as one of the major capital of International sailing. La Rochelle still steer the course to the future!
www.ville-larochelle.fr
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