The 92m superyacht Mayan Queen IV, built in 2008 by Blohm + Voss in Germany is currently cruising in New Zealand and was recently spotted anchored […]
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.
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.