Velux 5 Oceans Race

The Velux 5 Oceans Race is a round-the-world single-handed yacht race, sailed in stages, managed by Clipper Ventures Plc since 2000. Its current name comes from its main sponsor, Velux, an international company based in Denmark that specializes in windows and skylights. Originally known as the BOC Challenge, for the title sponsor BOC Gases, the first edition was in 1982. In the late 1990s the race was renamed the Around Alone, the 2006–2007 edition ran under its current name.

This event is the longest race for individuals in any sport; its course has changed over the years.

Overview

The BOC Challenge race was established in 1982, with main sponsorship from BOC Gases. 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.[1]

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.

Past results

The BOC Challenge 1982–83

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

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:[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

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:[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
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 BOC Challenge 1994–95

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:[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

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:[11][12][13]

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 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
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[14][15][16]

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. 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:[17][18]

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

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  United Kingdom Open 60 Retired Leg 1
Alex Thomson Hugo Boss  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.[19]

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:[20]

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

The 2010 edition of the race started in La Rochelle (France), on October 17, 2010, and finished in the same port. Stopovers will be Cape Town (South Africa), Wellington (New Zealand), Punta del Este (Uruguay), and Charleston, South Carolina (USA). The sailboats are 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

Notes

  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.". latimes.
  11. ↑ Roll of Honour (1998), from the official web site Archived March 12, 2006, at the Wayback Machine.
  12. ↑ Around Alone 1998–1999 Results, from solocircumnavigation.com
  13. ↑ 1998–99 Around Alone Results, from Torresen Marine
  14. ↑ Alone Against The Sea - The Dangers Of Solo Sailing
  15. ↑ "Virtual Surgery On The High Seas". cbsnews.com. 18 November 1998.
  16. ↑ Cruising World, February 2008
  17. ↑ Roll of Honour (2002), from the official web site Archived March 12, 2006, at the Wayback Machine.
  18. ↑ Overall results, for 2002, from Pindar's website
  19. ↑ The Boats, from the official web site Archived December 31, 2005, at the Wayback Machine.
  20. ↑ Race Route, from the official web site Archived March 12, 2006, at the Wayback Machine.
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