VELUX 5 OCEANS RACE

 

 

 

The VELUX 5 OCEANS Race is a round-the-world single-handed yacht race, sailed in stages. Its name comes from its main sponsor, VELUX, a Danish company. This year's race started in Bilbao, Spain, on October 22, 2006 and is currently in progress. Originally known as the BOC Challenge, for the title sponsor BOC Gasses, the first edition was in 1982. The race was later re-named the Around Alone; the current race is called the VELUX 5 OCEANS Race.

 

This event is the longest race for individuals in any sport; although the course has changed over the years, the 2006 edition covered a route of 30,140 nautical miles (55,820 km).

 

 

Overview

 

The BOC Challenge race was established in 1982, with main sponsorship from BOC Gasses. The race was inspired by the Golden Globe Race, which was the first single-handed round-the-world yacht race. Although the Golden Globe was a non-stop race, the BOC Challenge concept was for a single-handed round-the-world race, to be run in stages (in contrast to the Vendée Globe, which is non-stop). As the longest single-handed event in the world, it is regarded as one of sailing's ultimate challenges.

 

The race is run every four years. The first edition was won by Philippe Jeantot, who won all four legs of the race with an overall elapsed time of just over 159 days. In 1990, the race was renamed the Around Alone; for 2006, it is known as the VELUX 5 OCEANS Race.

 

 

VELUX 5 OCEANS Race, 2006

 

The Skippers

 

Skipper Name

Boat Name

Nationality

Boat Type

Time

Bernard Stamm

Cheminées Poujoulat

 Switzerland

Open 60

103 days

Kojiro Shiraishi

Spirit of Yukoh

 Japan

Open 60

118 days

Unai Basurko

Pakea

 Spain / Basque

Open 60

158 days

Sir Robin Knox-Johnston

SAGA Insurance

 United Kingdom

Open 60

159 days

Graham Dalton

A Southern Man-AGD

 New Zealand

Open 50

Finished Leg 2

Mike Golding

Ecover

 United Kingdom

Open 60

Retired Leg 1

Alex Thomson

Hugo Boss

 United Kingdom

Open 60

Abandoned Leg 1

 

 

 

The boats

 

The race is open to monohull yachts conforming to the Open 50 and Open 60 class criteria. The Open classes are unrestricted in certain aspects but a box rule governs parameters such as overall length, draught, appendages and stability, as well as numerous other safety features.

 

 

The course

 

The race takes place in stages, with the skippers having the chance to rest and refit at each stop-over point. Different staging points have been used over the years; the races prior to the 1998 event were run in four legs, and the 1998 event in five legs. The 2006 edition will have the longest stages of any edition to date, with just three legs:

 

 

From

To

Expected Start

Expected Finish

Length (nm)

Bilbao, Spain

Fremantle, Australia

October 22, 2006

Early December 2006

11,730

Fremantle, Australia

Norfolk, Virginia, USA

January 7, 2007

Mid March 2007

14,500

Norfolk, Virginia, USA

Bilbao, Spain

April 15, 2007

End of April 2007

3,910

 

The total length for the 2006 edition was 30,140 nautical miles (55,820 km).

 

 

Past results

 

The BOC Challenge, 1982

 

Raced over four legs; Newport, Rhode Island — Cape Town — Sydney — Rio de Janeiro — Newport. Two classes of boat were entered: Class 1, 45-56 feet (13.7-17.1 m); and Class 2, 32-44 feet (9.7-13.4 m).

 

 

Results:

 

Skipper

Boat

Nationality

Time

Class 1: 45 to 56 feet

Philippe Jeantot

Credit Agricole

 France

159 days

Bertie Reed

Altech Voortrekker

 South Africa

170 days

Richard Broadhead

Perseverance of Medina

 United Kingdom

192 days

Neville Gosson

Leda Pier One

 Australia

202 days

Desmond Hampton

Gipsy Moth V

 United Kingdom

Wrecked

Tony Lush

Lady Pepperell

 United States

Sunk Leg 2

Paul Rogers

Spirit of Pentax

 United Kingdom

Retired Leg 1

Dave White

Gladiator

 United States

Retired Leg 1

Class 2: 32 to 44 feet

Yukoh Tada

Koden Okera V

 Japan

207 days

Francis Stokes

Moonshine

 United States

209 days

Richard Konkolski

Nike III

 United States

213 days

Guy Bernadin

Ratso II

 France

221 days

Dan Byrne

Fantasy

 United States

228 days

Richard McBride

City of Dunedin

 New Zealand

264 days

Jacques de Roux

Skoiern III

 France

Sunk Leg 3

Greg Coles

Datsun Skyline

 New Zealand

Retired Leg 1

Thomas Lindholm

Driftwood

 United States

Retired Leg 1

 

 

 

The BOC Challenge, 1986

 

Raced over four legs; Newport, Rhode Island — Cape Town — Sydney — Rio de Janeiro — Newport. Two classes of boat were entered: Class 1, from 50-60 feet (15.2-18.3 m); and Class 2, 40-50 feet (12.2-15.2 m). New safety rules were introduced for this race, including compulsory watertight bulkheads and a simple stability check.

 

 

Results:

 

Skipper

Boat

Nationality

Time

Class 1: 50 to 60 feet

Philippe Jeantot

Credit Agricole

 France

134 days

Titouan Lamazou

Ecureuil

 France

137 days

Jean-Y Terlain

UAP

 France

146 days

Guy Bernadin

Biscuit Lu

 France

146 days

John Martin

Tuna Marine

 South Africa

147 days

Ian Kiernan

Triple M

 Australia

156 days

Bertie Reed

Stabilo Boss

 South Africa

163 days

Dave White

Legend Securities

 United States

164 days

Richard McBride

Kiwi Express

 New Zealand

Retired Leg 1

John Biddlecombe

ACI Crusader

 Australia

Retired Leg 1

Warren Luhrs

Thursday's Child

 United States

Retired Leg 2

Class 2: 40 to 50 feet

Mike Plant

Airco Distributor

 United States

157 days

Jean Luc van den Heede

Let's Go

 France

161 days

Harry Harkimo

Belmont Finland

 Finland

168 days

Hal Roth

American Flag

 United States

171 days

Richard Konkolski

Declaration

 United States

172 days

Pentti Salmi

Colt by Rettig

 Finland

175 days

Mark Schrader

Lone Star

 United States

175 days

John Hughes

Joseph Young

 Canada

189 days

Dick Cross

Airforce

 United States

Retired Leg 1

Eduardo Louro de Almeida

Miss Global

 Brazil

Retired Leg 1

Mac Smith

Qualo

 United States

Retired Leg 1

Takao Shimada

Madonna

 Japan

Retired Leg 1

Harry Mitchell

Double Cross

 United Kingdom

Retired Leg 3

Jacques de Roux

Skoiern 1V

 France

Lost at sea Leg 2

 

 

 

The BOC Challenge, 1990

 

The course was changed for this edition, although it was still divided into four legs: Newport, Rhode Island — Cape Town — Sydney — Punta del Este — Newport. Three classes of boat were entered: Class 1, from 50-60 feet (15.2-18.3 m); Class 2, 40-50 feet (12.2-15.2 m); and a Corinthian class.

 

 

Results:

 

Skipper

Boat

Nationality

Time

Class 1: 50 to 60 feet

Christophe Auguin

Groupe Sceta

 France

120 days

Alain Gautier

Generali Concorde

 France

122 days

Philippe Jeantot

Credit Agricole IV

 France

129 days

Mike Plant

Duracell

 United States

132 days

Kanga Birtles

Jarkan Yacht Builders

 Australia

135 days

Dave Adams

Innkeeper

 Australia

136 days

Isabelle Autissier

Ecureuil Poitou Charantes

 France

139 days

Bertie Reed

Grinaker

 South Africa

140 days

Jose de Ugarte

BBV Expo '92

 Spain

140 days

Nando Fa

Alba Regia

 Hungary

165 days

John Martin

Allied Bank

 South Africa

Sank Leg 3

John Biddlecombe

Interox Crusader

 Australia

Retired Leg 1

Endo O'Coineen

Kilcullen

 Ireland

Retired Leg 1

Class 2: 40 to 50 feet

Yves Dupasquier

Servant IV

 France

141 days

Don McIntyre

Buttercup

 Australia

153 days

Josh Hall

New Spirit of Ipswich

 United Kingdom

157 days

Jack Boye

Project City Kids

 United States

158 days

Hal Roth

Sebago

 United States

211 days

Yukoh Tada

Koden VIII

 Japan

Retired Leg 2

Jane Weber

Tilly Endurable

 United States

Retired Leg 1

Corinthian class

Paul Thackleberry

Volcano

 United States

180 days

Robin Davie

Global Exposure

 United Kingdom

181 days

Minoru Saito

Shuten Dohji

 Japan

197 days

William Gilmore

Zafu

 United States

Retired Leg 1

Robert Hooke

Niihau 4

 United States

Retired Leg 3

 

 

 

The Around Alone, 1994

 

The course was again changed for this edition, although it was still divided into four legs: Charleston, South Carolina — Cape Town — Sydney — Punta del Este — Charleston. Two classes of boat were entered: Class 1, from 50-60 feet (15.2-18.3 m); and Class 2, 40-50 feet (12.2-15.2 m).

 

 

Results:

 

Skipper

Boat

Nationality

Time

Class 1: 50 to 60 feet

Christophe Auguin

Sceta

 France

121 days

Steve Pettengill

Hunters Child

 United States

128 days

Jean Luc van den Heede

Vendee Enterprises

 France

129 days

David Scully

Coyote

 United States

133 days

JJ Provoyeur

Novell S.Africa

 South Africa

133 days

Arnet Taylor

Thursday's Child

 United States

200 days

Josh Hall

Gartmore

 United Kingdom

Sank Leg 1

Mark Gatehouse

QAB

 United Kingdom

Retired Leg 1

Isabelle Autissier

PRB

 France

Sank Leg 2

Class 2: 40 to 50 feet

Dave Adams

True Blue

 Australia

131 days

Giovanni Soldini

Kodak

 Italy

134 days

Niah Vaughan

Jimroda II

 United Kingdom

166 days

Alan Nebauer

Newcastle Australia

 Australia

181 days

Robin Davie

Cornwall

 United Kingdom

197 days

Minoru Saito

Shuten Dohji II

 Japan

223 days

Floyd Romak

Cardac 88

 United States

Retired Leg 1

Neal Petersen

Protect our Sealife

 South Africa

Retired Leg 2

Simone Bianchetti

Town of Cervia

 Italy

Retired Leg 2

Nigel Rowe

Skycatcher

 United Kingdom

Retired Leg 3

Harry Mitchell

Double Cross

 United Kingdom

Lost at sea

 

 

 

The Around Alone, 1998

 

The course was again changed for this edition, although it was still divided into four legs: Charleston, South Carolina — Cape Town — Auckland — Punta del Este — Charleston. Two classes of boat were entered: Class 1, from 50-60 feet (15.2-18.3 m); and Class 2, 40-50 feet (12.2-15.2 m).

 

 

The results:

 

Skipper

Boat

Nationality

Time

Class 1: 50 to 60 feet

Giovanni Soldini

Fila

 Italy

116 days

Marc Thiercelin

Somewhere

 France

130 days

Josh Hall

Gartmore

 United Kingdom

Dismasted Leg 3

Fedor Konioukhov

Modern U/Humanities

 Russia

Retired Leg 2

Mike Golding

Group 4 Securitas

 United Kingdom

Retired Leg 2

Isabelle Autissier

PRB

 France

Sank Leg 3

Sebastian Reidl

Project Amazon

 Canada

Class 2: 40 to 50 feet

Jean Pierre Mouligne

Cray Valley

 France

132 days

Michael Garside

Magellan Alpha

 United Kingdom

138 days

Brad van Liew

Balance Bar

 United States

150 days

Viktor Yazykov

Wind of Change

 Russia

168 days

Neil Petersen

www.nobarriers.com

 South Africa

195 days

Minoru Saito

Shuten Dohji II

 Japan

203 days

Neil Hunter

Paladin II

 Australia

216 days

Robin Davie

South Carolina

 United States

Disqualified Leg 2

George Stricker

Rapscallion III

 United States

Retired Leg 2

 

 

 

The Around Alone, 2002

 

The course was again changed for this edition, this time spanning five legs: Newport, Rhode Island/New York — Brixham, Devon — Cape Town — Tauranga — Salvador, Brazil — Newport. Althouth the race technically started and ended in Newport, it was preceded by a "prologue race", in which the boats with crews of up to five raced to New York, to take part in Sail for America, a major sailing event marking the first anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks. The main Around Alone event started from New York, and finished back in Newport.

 

Three classes of boat were entered: Class 1, IMOCA Open 60; Class 2, IMOCA Open 50; and Class 3, IMOCA Open 40.

 

Results:

 

Skipper

Boat

Nationality

Time

Class 1: IMOCA Open 60

Bernard Stamm

Bobst Group Armor Lux

 Switzerland

49 pts 115 days

Thierry Dubois

Solidaires

 France

45 pts 118 days

Simone Bianchetti

Tiscali

 Italy

35 pts 159 days

Emma Richards

Pindar

 United Kingdom

33 pts 131 days

Bruce Schwab

Ocean Planet

 United States

30 pts 159 days

Patrick Radigues

Garnier

 Belgium

Retired Leg 1

Graham Dalton

Hexagon HSBC

 New Zealand

Retired Leg 3

Class 2: IMOCA Open 50

Brad van Lieu

Tommy Hilfiger

 United States

50 pts 148 days

Tim Kent

Everest Horizontal

 United States

44 pts 169 days

John Dennis

Bayer Ascensia

 Canada

Retired Leg 2

Class 3: IMOCA Open 40

Derek Hatfield

Spirit of Canada

 Canada

37 pts 245 days

Kojiro Shiraishi

Spirit of Yukoh

 Japan

36 pts 180 days

Alan Paris

BTC Velocity

 Bermuda

30 pts 202 days

 

 

 

LINKS and REFERENCE

 

 

Open 60 racing yacht - White Ocean Racing Vendee Globe contender

 

 

 

 

 

 

CIRCUMNAVIGATION MILESTONE EXPEDITION ESTIMATES

 

1.

MONACO

START LINE

2.

GIBRALTAR

DAY 14 UPDATE

3.

TENERIFE - CANARY ISLD

DAY 28 UPDATE

4.

TRINIDAD - WEST INDIES

DAY 42 UPDATE

5.

PANAMA CANAL

DAY 56 UPDATE

6.

GALAPAGOS ISLANDS

DAY 70 UPDATE

7.

TAHITI

DAY 84 UPDATE

8.

TONGA

DAY 98 LATEST

9.

FIJI

DAY 112 UPDATE

10.

PORT MORESBY - P.N.G.

DAY 126 UPDATE

11.

CAPE YORK - AUSTRALIA

DAY 140 UPDATE

12.

DARWIN - AUSTRALIA

DAY 154 UPDATE

13.

JAKARTA - JAVA

DAY 168 UPDATE

14.

COLOMBO - SRI LANKA

DAY 182 UPDATE

15.

ADEN - YEMEN

DAY 196 LATEST

16.

SUEZ CANAL

DAY 210 UPDATE

17.

PORT SAID - EGYPT

DAY 224 UPDATE

18.

PALERMO - SICILY

DAY 238 UPDATE

19.

NAPLES - ITALY

DAY 252 UPDATE

20.

MONACO

DAY 266 UPDATE

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