VELUX 5 OCEANS RACE

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'.^[1]
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).

Contents

Overview

VELUX 5 OCEANS Race, 2006

The Skippers

The boats

The course

Past results

The ''BOC Challenge'', 1982

The ''BOC Challenge'', 1986

The ''BOC Challenge'', 1990

The ''Around Alone'', 1994

The ''Around Alone'', 1998

The ''Around Alone'', 2002

References

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.^[2]
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''		Open 60	103 days
Kojiro Shiraishi	''Spirit of Yukoh''		Open 60	118 days
Unai Basurko	''Pakea''	/ Basque	Open 60	158 days
Sir Robin Knox-Johnston	''SAGA Insurance''		Open 60	159 days
Graham Dalton	''A Southern Man-AGD''		Open 50	Finished Leg 2
Mike Golding	''Ecover''		Open 60	Retired Leg 1
Alex Thomson	''Hugo Boss''		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.^[3]

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:^[4]

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:^[5][6]

Skipper	Boat	Nationality	Time
'Class 1: 45 to 56 feet'
Philippe Jeantot	''Credit Agricole''		159 days
Bertie Reed	''Altech Voortrekker''		170 days
Richard Broadhead	''Perseverance of Medina''		192 days
Neville Gosson	''Leda Pier One''		202 days
Desmond Hampton	''Gipsy Moth V''		Wrecked
Tony Lush	''Lady Pepperell''		Sunk Leg 2
Paul Rogers	''Spirit of Pentax''		Retired Leg 1
Dave White	''Gladiator''		Retired Leg 1
'Class 2: 32 to 44 feet'
Yukoh Tada	''Koden Okera V''		207 days
Francis Stokes	''Moonshine''		209 days
Richard Konkolski	''Nike III''		213 days
Guy Bernadin	''Ratso II''		221 days
Dan Byrne	''Fantasy''		228 days
Richard McBride	''City of Dunedin''		264 days
Jacques de Roux	''Skoiern III''		Sunk Leg 3
Greg Coles	''Datsun Skyline''		Retired Leg 1
Thomas Lindholm	''Driftwood''		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:^[7][8]

Skipper	Boat	Nationality	Time
'Class 1: 50 to 60 feet'
Philippe Jeantot	''Credit Agricole''		134 days
Titouan Lamazou	''Ecureuil''		137 days
Jean-Y Terlain	''UAP''		146 days
Guy Bernadin	''Biscuit Lu''		146 days
John Martin	''Tuna Marine''		147 days
Ian Kiernan	''Triple M''		156 days
Bertie Reed	''Stabilo Boss''		163 days
Dave White	''Legend Securities''		164 days
Richard McBride	''Kiwi Express''		Retired Leg 1
John Biddlecombe	''ACI Crusader''		Retired Leg 1
Warren Luhrs	''Thursday's Child''		Retired Leg 2
'Class 2: 40 to 50 feet'
Mike Plant	''Airco Distributor''		157 days
Jean Luc van den Heede	''Let's Go''		161 days
Harry Harkimo	''Belmont Finland''		168 days
Hal Roth	''American Flag''		171 days
Richard Konkolski	''Declaration''		172 days
Pentti Salmi	''Colt by Rettig''		175 days
Mark Schrader	''Lone Star''		175 days
John Hughes	''Joseph Young''		189 days
Dick Cross	''Airforce''		Retired Leg 1
Eduardo Louro de Almeida	''Miss Global''		Retired Leg 1
Mac Smith	''Qualo''		Retired Leg 1
Takao Shimada	''Madonna''		Retired Leg 1
Harry Mitchell	''Double Cross''		Retired Leg 3
Jacques de Roux	''Skoiern 1V''		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:^[9][10]

Skipper	Boat	Nationality	Time
'Class 1: 50 to 60 feet'
Christophe Auguin	''Groupe Sceta''		120 days
Alain Gautier	''Generali Concorde''		122 days
Philippe Jeantot	''Credit Agricole IV''		129 days
Mike Plant	''Duracell''		132 days
Kanga Birtles	''Jarkan Yacht Builders''		135 days
Dave Adams	''Innkeeper''		136 days
Isabelle Autissier	''Ecureuil Poitou Charantes''		139 days
Bertie Reed	''Grinaker''		140 days
Jose de Ugarte	''BBV Expo '92''		140 days
Nando Fa	''Alba Regia''		165 days
John Martin	''Allied Bank''		Sank Leg 3
John Biddlecombe	''Interox Crusader''		Retired Leg 1
Endo O'Coineen	''Kilcullen''		Retired Leg 1
'Class 2: 40 to 50 feet'
Yves Dupasquier	''Servant IV''		141 days
Don McIntyre	''Buttercup''		153 days
Josh Hall	''New Spirit of Ipswich''		157 days
Jack Boye	''Project City Kids''		158 days
Hal Roth	''Sebago''		211 days
Yukoh Tada	''Koden VIII''		Retired Leg 2
Jane Weber	''Tilly Endurable''		Retired Leg 1
'Corinthian class'
Paul Thackleberry	''Volcano''		180 days
Robin Davie	''Global Exposure''		181 days
Minoru Saito	''Shuten Dohji''		197 days
William Gilmore	''Zafu''		Retired Leg 1
Robert Hooke	''Niihau 4''		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:^[11][12]

Skipper	Boat	Nationality	Time
'Class 1: 50 to 60 feet'
Christophe Auguin	''Sceta''		121 days
Steve Pettengill	''Hunters Child''		128 days
Jean Luc van den Heede	''Vendee Enterprises''		129 days
David Scully	''Coyote''		133 days
JJ Provoyeur	''Novell S.Africa''		133 days
Arnet Taylor	''Thursday's Child''		200 days
Josh Hall	''Gartmore''		Sank Leg 1
Mark Gatehouse	''QAB''		Retired Leg 1
Isabelle Autissier	''PRB''		Sank Leg 2
'Class 2: 40 to 50 feet'
Dave Adams	''True Blue''		131 days
Giovanni Soldini	''Kodak''		134 days
Niah Vaughan	''Jimroda II''		166 days
Alan Nebauer	''Newcastle Australia''		181 days
Robin Davie	''Cornwall''		197 days
Minoru Saito	''Shuten Dohji II''		223 days
Floyd Romak	''Cardac 88''		Retired Leg 1
Neal Petersen	''Protect our Sealife''		Retired Leg 2
Simone Bianchetti	''Town of Cervia''		Retired Leg 2
Nigel Rowe	''Skycatcher''		Retired Leg 3
Harry Mitchell	''Double Cross''		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:^[13][14][15]

Skipper	Boat	Nationality	Time
'Class 1: 50 to 60 feet'
Giovanni Soldini	''Fila''		116 days
Marc Thiercelin	''Somewhere''		130 days
Josh Hall	''Gartmore''		Dismasted Leg 3
Fedor Konioukhov	''Modern U/Humanities''		Retired Leg 2
Mike Golding	''Group 4 Securitas''		Retired Leg 2
Isabelle Autissier	''PRB''		Sank Leg 3
Sebastian Reidl	''Project Amazon''
'Class 2: 40 to 50 feet'
Jean Pierre Mouligne	''Cray Valley''		132 days
Michael Garside	''Magellan Alpha''		138 days
Brad van Liew	''Balance Bar''		150 days
Viktor Yazykov	''Wind of Change''		168 days
Neil Petersen	''www.nobarriers.com''		195 days
Minoru Saito	''Shuten Dohji II''		203 days
Neil Hunter	''Paladin II''		216 days
Robin Davie	''South Carolina''		Disqualified Leg 2
George Stricker	''Rapscallion III''		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:^[16][17]

Skipper	Boat	Nationality	Time
'Class 1: IMOCA Open 60'
Bernard Stamm	''Bobst Group Armor Lux''		49 pts 115 days
Thierry Dubois	''Solidaires''		45 pts 118 days
Simone Bianchetti	''Tiscali''		35 pts 159 days
Emma Richards	''Pindar''		33 pts 131 days
Bruce Schwab	''Ocean Planet''		30 pts 159 days
Patrick Radigues	''Garnier''		Retired Leg 1
Graham Dalton	''Hexagon HSBC''		Retired Leg 3
'Class 2: IMOCA Open 50'
Brad van Lieu	''Tommy Hilfiger''		50 pts 148 days
Tim Kent	''Everest Horizontal''		44 pts 169 days
John Dennis	''Bayer Ascensia''		Retired Leg 2
'Class 3: IMOCA Open 40'
Derek Hatfield	''Spirit of Canada''		37 pts 245 days
Kojiro Shiraishi	''Spirit of Yukoh''		36 pts 180 days
Alan Paris	''BTC Velocity''		30 pts 202 days

References

1. ''VELUX 5 Oceans'', the official web site
2. ''Race History'', from the official web site
3. ''The Boats'', from the official web site
4. ''Race Route'', from the official web site
5. ''Roll of Honour (1982)'', from the official web site
6. ''The BOC Challenge 1982-1983 Results'', from solocircumnavigation.com
7. ''Roll of Honour (1986)'', from the official web site
8. ''The BOC Challenge 1986-1987 Results'', from solocircumnavigation.com
9. ''Roll of Honour (1990)'', from the official web site
10. ''The BOC Challenge 1990-1991 Results'', from solocircumnavigation.com
11. ''Roll of Honour (1994)'', from the official web site
12. ''The BOC Challenge 1994-1995 Results'', from solocircumnavigation.com
13. ''Roll of Honour (1998)'', from the official web site
14. ''Around Alone 1998-1999 Results'', from solocircumnavigation.com
15. ''1998-99 Around Alone Results'', from Torresen Marine
16. ''Roll of Honour (2002)'', from the official web site
17. ''Overall results'', for 2002, from ''Pindar'''s website