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
-
VELUX
5 Oceans, the official web site
-
Race
History, from the official web site
-
The
Boats, from the official web site
-
Race
Route, from the official web site
-
Roll
of Honour (1982), from the official web site
-
The
BOC Challenge 1982-1983 Results, from solocircumnavigation.com
-
Roll
of Honour (1986), from the official web site
-
The
BOC Challenge 1986-1987 Results, from solocircumnavigation.com
-
Roll
of Honour (1990), from the official web site
-
The
BOC Challenge 1990-1991 Results, from solocircumnavigation.com
-
Roll
of Honour (1994), from the official web site
-
The
BOC Challenge 1994-1995 Results, from solocircumnavigation.com
-
Roll
of Honour (1998), from the official web site
-
Around
Alone 1998-1999 Results, from solocircumnavigation.com
-
1998-99
Around Alone Results, from Torresen Marine
-
Roll
of Honour (2002), from the official web site
-
Overall
results, for 2002, from Pindar's website
|