Wikipedia

Velux 5 Oceans Race

The Velux 5 Oceans Race was a round-the-world single-handed yacht race, sailed in stages, managed by Clipper Ventures since 2000. Its most recent name comes from its main sponsor Velux. Originally known as the BOC Challenge, for the title sponsor BOC, the first edition was in 1982. In the late 1990s the race was renamed the Around Alone. After attracting just five entries in the 2010-11 race, the event has not been held since.

Overview edit

The race was established in 1982 as the BOC Challenge, with main sponsorship from BOC. 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 was regarded as one of sailing's ultimate challenges.[1]

The race was 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 1998, the race was renamed the Around Alone; for 2006, it is known as the Velux 5 Oceans Race.

  •  
    1982-1983 Route
  •  
    1990-1991 Route
  •  
    1994-1995 Route
  •  
    1998-1999 Route
  •  
    2002 Route
  •  
    2006-2007 Route
  •  
    2010-2011 Route

Past results edit

The BOC Challenge 1982–83 edit

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:[2][3]

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 Mooneshine   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 1986–87 edit

Raced over four legs; Newport, Rhode Island — Cape Town — Sydney — Rio de Janeiro — Newport. Two classes of boat were entered: Class 1, 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:[4][5]

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 IV   France Lost at sea Leg 2

The BOC Challenge 1990–91 edit

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, 50–60 feet (15.2–18.3 m); Class 2, 40–50 feet (12.2–15.2 m); and a Corinthian class.

Results:[6][7]

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
Nándor Fa Alba Regia   Hungary 165 days
John Martin Allied Bank   South Africa Sank Leg 3
John Biddlecombe Interox Crusader   Australia Retired Leg 1
Enda 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 Tilley Endurable   Canada 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 BOC Challenge 1994–95 edit

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, 50–60 feet (15.2–18.3 m); and Class 2, 40–50 feet (12.2–15.2 m).

Results:[8][9]

Skipper Boat Nationality Time
Class 1: 50 to 60 feet
Christophe Auguin Sceta-Calberson   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 Ecureuil Poitou-Charentes 2   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 Hornblower   United Kingdom Lost at sea[10]

The Around Alone, 1998 edit

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, 50–60 feet (15.2–18.3 m); and Class 2, 40–50 feet (12.2–15.2 m).

In this race Isabelle Autissier was rescued by fellow competitor Giovanni Soldini when her boat PRB capsized approximately 1,900 nautical miles (3,500 km) west of Cape Horn.[11][12]

The results:[13][14][15]

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
Fyodor Konyukhov Modern Unervisity For The Humanities   Russia Retired Leg 2
Mike Golding Group 4 Securitas   United Kingdom Retired Leg 2
Isabelle Autissier PRB (1)   France Capsized Leg 3
rescued by Giovanni Soldini
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
Neal Petersen www.no-barriers.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

Viktor Yazykov is noted for performing surgery alone, at sea, on his elbow to drain a dangerous infection after injuring his elbow during the race. He emailed a doctor who provided instructions for his treatment[16][17][18]

The Around Alone, 2002 edit

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. Although 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:[19][20]

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 Liew 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

The Velux 5 Oceans 2006–07 edit

The 2006 edition covered a route of 30,140 nautical miles (55,820 km). The race started in Bilbao (Spain), on October 22, 2006, and finished there. There were only two stops, in Fremantle (Australia) and Norfolk (USA).

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 3   United Kingdom Open 60 Retired Leg 1
Alex Thomson Hugo Boss (1)   United Kingdom Open 60 Abandoned Leg 1

The race was 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.[21]

The race took 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 had the longest stages of any edition to date, with just three legs:[22]

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).

The Velux 5 Oceans 2010–11 edit

The 2010 edition of the race started in La Rochelle (France), on October 17, 2010, and finished in the same port. Stopovers were Cape Town (South Africa), Wellington (New Zealand), Punta del Este (Uruguay), and Charleston, South Carolina (USA). The sailboats were all in the "Eco 60" class (Open 60 yachts built before 1 January 2003).

Skipper Name Nationality Boat Name Boat Type Total Time Overall Place Overall Points
Brad Van Liew   United States Le Pingouin
Eco 60
 118 days 10 hours 17 mins 1st 73
Zbigniew Gutkowski   Poland Operon Racing
Eco 60
 140 days 14 hours 37 mins (including stopping in Brazil due to injury) 2nd 53
Derek Hatfield   Canada Active House
Eco 60
 130 days 15 hours 42 mins 3rd 51
Chris Stanmore-Major   United Kingdom Spartan
Eco 60
 140 days 4 hours 10 mins 4th 48
Christophe Bullens   Belgium Five Ocean of Smiles
Eco 60
 Retired, Sprint 1

See also edit

Notes edit

  1. ^ Race History, from the official web site Archived March 12, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ Roll of Honour (1982), from the official web site Archived March 12, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ The BOC Challenge 1982–1983 Results, from solocircumnavigation.com
  4. ^ Roll of Honour (1986), from the official web site Archived March 12, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
  5. ^ The BOC Challenge 1986–1987 Results, from solocircumnavigation.com
  6. ^ Roll of Honour (1990), from the official web site Archived March 12, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
  7. ^ The BOC Challenge 1990–1991 Results, from solocircumnavigation.com
  8. ^ Roll of Honour (1994), from the official web site Archived March 12, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
  9. ^ The BOC Challenge 1994–1995 Results, from solocircumnavigation.com
  10. ^ "Sailor's Fate Clouded in Sail Around the World: Racing: Of the 20 yachts that left South Carolina last September, 12 finished and one was lost at sea. Harry Mitchell's emergency beacon went off March 2, but no trace has been found of him or his boat". Los Angeles Times.
  11. ^ Howe, Robert F. (1 March 1999) "The Deep End of the Sea", Time. Retrieved 19 June 2010.
  12. ^ "'I saved a friend lost in the South Pacific'". Financial Times. 11 March 2016.
  13. ^ Roll of Honour (1998), from the official web site Archived March 12, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
  14. ^ Around Alone 1998–1999 Results, from solocircumnavigation.com
  15. ^ 1998–99 Around Alone Results Archived 2005-11-11 at the Wayback Machine, from Torresen Marine
  16. ^ Alone Against The Sea - The Dangers Of Solo Sailing
  17. ^ "Virtual Surgery On The High Seas". cbsnews.com. 18 November 1998.
  18. ^ Cruising World, February 2008
  19. ^ Roll of Honour (2002), from the official web site Archived March 12, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
  20. ^ Overall results Archived 2005-12-19 at the Wayback Machine, for 2002, from Pindar's website
  21. ^ The Boats, from the official web site Archived December 31, 2005, at the Wayback Machine
  22. ^ Race Route, from the official web site Archived March 12, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
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