AMERICAN solo ocean racer Brad Van Liew today made it two wins from two ocean sprints as he sailed into Wellington, New Zealand, to claim victory in second sprint of the VELUX 5 OCEANS solo round the world yacht race. For the 42-year-old from Charleston, South Carolina, it brought to an end a gruelling month-long slog through the Southern Ocean from Cape Town in South Africa alone on his Eco 60 yacht Le Pingouin.
To go east, or not to go east – that is the question facing the VELUX 5 OCEANS skippers as they approach the south of New Zealand, less than 1,000 nautical miles from the finish line in Wellington. After four gruelling weeks at sea sailing through one of the most inhospitable oceans in the world, the end might be in sight for the tired ocean racers but the race is by no means over.
The second sprint of the VELUX 5 OCEANS is looking like it will go down to the wire in an exhilarating climax to the 7,000 nautical mile leg. After 26 days of full-on solo racing through the Southern Ocean, and with 1,000 nautical miles left to the finish line in Wellington, New Zealand, the leading ocean racers are separated by just 300 nautical miles.
American ocean racer Brad Van Liew sailed into Cape Town to claim victory in the first ocean sprint of the VELUX 5 OCEANS. The 42-year-old from Charleston, South Carolina, blasted across the finish line in Table Bay at 5.51pm local time (3.51pm UTC) doing 10-12 knots in a 15-knot wind.
Five international skippers in the VELUX 5 OCEANS blasted across the start line beginning a 30,000-mile adventure around the globe.
The beautiful tallship Belem, one of France’s most famous boats is a majestic three-masted tallship that was welcomed to the VELUX 5 OCEANS race village in La Rochelle.
Christophe Bullens has confirmed he expects to be on the start line of the VELUX 5 OCEANS after securing a new boat the Eco 60 Artech just five days before the start of the 30,000-mile solo round the world race.
The VELUX 5 OCEANS race village in La Rochelle opened today, the 17th of October. The race village is the largest in the VELUX 5 OCEANS’ 28-year history and 8 days of festivities are planned to celebrate race.
Christophe Bullens and his team are working hard to find a new Eco 60 for the start of the VELUX 5 OCEANS in one week. Christophe Bullens yacht Five Oceans of Smiles was cruelly dismasted on the way to La Rochelle earlier this week.
On the 5th October 2010 Christophe Bullens was dismasted off the coast of France. His Team Sapphire however, are doing their best to make sure Christophe makes the start of the Ultimate Solo Challenge.
Velux 5 Oceans announced today, that Charles Hedrich and Simon Chalk will not longer be racing the Ultimate Solo Challenge.
VELUX 5 OCEANS race village in La Rochelle, France is preparing for the official opening on 9th of October at 10am with a programme full of exciting events.