Fotogalerie
27.05.2011
MEDIA ADVISORY: VELUX 5 OCEANS RACERS APPROACH FINISH LINE IN FRANCE
American skipper Brad Van Liew in line to win The Ultimate Solo Challenge
What: The fleet of the VELUX 5 OCEANS race is charging towards the La Rochelle
finish line to complete their solo circumnavigations and the first arrival of
the race, that started in the historic French port back in October 2010, is expected
on Friday (27th May).
All four reindexing skippers have covered 30,000 miles alone at sea, battling extreme
weather, extended periods of solitude and some of the hardest sailing imaginable
over the course of the five gruelling ocean sprints. Now just over 170 miles separates
them and with around 500 miles left to cover they should arrive from Friday afternoon
onwards.
Brad Van Liew from Charleston, SC (USA) has so far won each leg of this edition
of the oldest solo, round-the-world yacht race, and his points lead is unassailable.
Brad is being chased to the line by three rivals: Zbigniew 'Gutek' Gutkowski
(POL) who in turn is locked in his own battle for overall second place with Derek
Hatfield (CAN), and Chris Stanmore-Major (GBR).
From La Rochelle, the VELUX 5 OCEANS fleet raced to Cape Town (RSA), Wellington
(NZ), Punta del Este (URU), and Charleston (USA) before heading back across the
Atlantic.
When: The first boat is expected to finish in La Rochelle, France late on Friday
afternoon, with the next arrivals only a few hours behind. Local media can sign
up for SMS alerts by emailing mobile number to shames@velux5oceans.com [mailto:shames@velux5oceans.com]
Where: Media boats will leave from Les Minimes and the race boats will arrive
into the Bassin des Chalutiers. The lock at the Bassin is only open twice a day,
so race boats may be held outside for a period of time. Updates on their progress
into the Bassin will be sent via the SMS system.
Who:
Brad Van Liew (43) http://bit.ly/m58PMY [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=mhfrebdab&et=1105707495664&s=252&e
For all interview requests or further details please contact:
Sarah Hames - + 44 7813 009783 or shames@velux5oceans.com [mailto:sarahhames@me.com]
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