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

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.

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]

SkipperBoatNationalityTime
Class 1: 45 to 56 feet
Philippe JeantotCredit Agricole France159 days
Bertie ReedAltech Voortrekker South Africa170 days
Richard BroadheadPerseverance of Medina United Kingdom192 days
Neville GossonLeda Pier One Australia202 days
Desmond HamptonGipsy Moth V United KingdomWrecked
Tony LushLady Pepperell United StatesSunk Leg 2
Paul RogersSpirit of Pentax United KingdomRetired Leg 1
Dave WhiteGladiator United StatesRetired Leg 1
Class 2: 32 to 44 feet
Yukoh TadaKoden Okera V Japan207 days
Francis StokesMooneshine United States209 days
Richard KonkolskiNike III United States213 days
Guy BernadinRatso II France221 days
Dan ByrneFantasy United States228 days
Richard McBrideCity of Dunedin New Zealand264 days
Jacques de RouxSkoiern III FranceSunk Leg 3
Greg ColesDatsun Skyline New ZealandRetired Leg 1
Thomas LindholmDriftwood United StatesRetired 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, 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]

SkipperBoatNationalityTime
Class 1: 50 to 60 feet
Philippe JeantotCredit Agricole France134 days
Titouan LamazouEcureuil France137 days
Jean-Y TerlainUAP France146 days
Guy BernadinBiscuit Lu France146 days
John MartinTuna Marine South Africa147 days
Ian KiernanTriple M Australia156 days
Bertie ReedStabilo Boss South Africa163 days
Dave WhiteLegend Securities United States164 days
Richard McBrideKiwi Express New ZealandRetired Leg 1
John BiddlecombeACI Crusader AustraliaRetired Leg 1
Warren LuhrsThursday's Child United StatesRetired Leg 2
Class 2: 40 to 50 feet
Mike PlantAirco Distributor United States157 days
Jean-Luc Van Den HeedeLet's Go France161 days
Harry HarkimoBelmont Finland Finland168 days
Hal RothAmerican Flag United States171 days
Richard KonkolskiDeclaration United States172 days
Pentti SalmiColt by Rettig Finland175 days
Mark SchraderLone Star United States175 days
John HughesJoseph Young Canada189 days
Dick CrossAirforce United StatesRetired Leg 1
Eduardo Louro de AlmeidaMiss Global BrazilRetired Leg 1
Mac SmithQualo United StatesRetired Leg 1
Takao ShimadaMadonna JapanRetired Leg 1
Harry MitchellDouble Cross United KingdomRetired Leg 3
Jacques de RouxSkoiern IV FranceLost 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, 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]

SkipperBoatNationalityTime
Class 1: 50 to 60 feet
Christophe AuguinGroupe Sceta France120 days
Alain GautierGenerali Concorde France122 days
Philippe JeantotCredit Agricole IV France129 days
Mike PlantDuracell United States132 days
Kanga BirtlesJarkan Yacht Builders Australia135 days
Dave AdamsInnkeeper Australia136 days
Isabelle AutissierEcureuil Poitou Charantes France139 days
Bertie ReedGrinaker South Africa140 days
Jose de UgarteBBV Expo '92 Spain140 days
Nándor FaAlba Regia Hungary165 days
John MartinAllied Bank South AfricaSank Leg 3
John BiddlecombeInterox Crusader AustraliaRetired Leg 1
Enda O'CoineenKilcullen IrelandRetired Leg 1
Class 2: 40 to 50 feet
Yves DupasquierServant IV France141 days
Don McIntyreButtercup Australia153 days
Josh HallNew Spirit of Ipswich United Kingdom157 days
Jack BoyeProject City Kids United States158 days
Hal RothSebago United States211 days
Yukoh TadaKoden VIII JapanRetired Leg 2
Jane WeberTilley Endurable CanadaRetired Leg 1
Corinthian class
Paul ThackleberryVolcano United States180 days
Robin DavieGlobal Exposure United Kingdom181 days
Minoru SaitoShuten Dohji Japan197 days
William GilmoreZafu United StatesRetired Leg 1
Robert HookeNiihau 4 United StatesRetired 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, 50–60 feet (15.2–18.3 m); and Class 2, 40–50 feet (12.2–15.2 m).

Results:[8][9]

SkipperBoatNationalityTime
Class 1: 50 to 60 feet
Christophe AuguinSceta-Calberson France121 days
Steve PettengillHunters Child United States128 days
Jean-Luc Van Den HeedeVendee Enterprises France129 days
David ScullyCoyote United States133 days
JJ ProvoyeurNovell S.Africa South Africa133 days
Arnet TaylorThursday's Child United States200 days
Josh HallGartmore United KingdomSank Leg 1
Mark GatehouseQAB United KingdomRetired Leg 1
Isabelle AutissierEcureuil Poitou-Charentes 2 FranceSank Leg 2
Class 2: 40 to 50 feet
Dave AdamsTrue Blue Australia131 days
Giovanni SoldiniKodak Italy134 days
Niah VaughanJimroda II United Kingdom166 days
Alan NebauerNewcastle Australia Australia181 days
Robin DavieCornwall United Kingdom197 days
Minoru SaitoShuten Dohji II Japan223 days
Floyd RomakCardac 88 United StatesRetired Leg 1
Neal PetersenProtect our Sealife South AfricaRetired Leg 2
Simone BianchettiTown of Cervia ItalyRetired Leg 2
Nigel RoweSkycatcher United KingdomRetired Leg 3
Harry MitchellHornblower United KingdomLost 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, 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]

SkipperBoatNationalityTime
Class 1: 50 to 60 feet
Giovanni SoldiniFila Italy116 days
Marc ThiercelinSomewhere France130 days
Josh HallGartmore United KingdomDismasted Leg 3
Fyodor KonyukhovModern Unervisity For The Humanities RussiaRetired Leg 2
Mike GoldingGroup 4 Securitas United KingdomRetired Leg 2
Isabelle AutissierPRB (1) FranceCapsized Leg 3
rescued by Giovanni Soldini
Sebastian ReidlProject Amazon Canada
Class 2: 40 to 50 feet
Jean Pierre MouligneCray Valley France132 days
Michael GarsideMagellan Alpha United Kingdom138 days
Brad van LiewBalance Bar United States150 days
Viktor YazykovWind of Change Russia168 days
Neal Petersenwww.no-barriers.com South Africa195 days
Minoru SaitoShuten Dohji II Japan203 days
Neil HunterPaladin II Australia216 days
Robin DavieSouth Carolina United StatesDisqualified Leg 2
George StrickerRapscallion III United StatesRetired 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

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]

SkipperBoatNationalityTime
Class 1: IMOCA Open 60
Bernard StammBobst Group - Armor Lux  Switzerland49 pts 115 days
Thierry DuboisSolidaires France45 pts 118 days
Simone BianchettiTiscali Italy35 pts 159 days
Emma RichardsPindar United Kingdom33 pts 131 days
Bruce SchwabOcean Planet United States30 pts 159 days
Patrick RadiguesGarnier BelgiumRetired Leg 1
Graham DaltonHexagon HSBC New ZealandRetired Leg 3
Class 2: IMOCA Open 50
Brad van LiewTommy Hilfiger United States50 pts 148 days
Tim KentEverest Horizontal United States44 pts 169 days
John DennisBayer Ascensia CanadaRetired Leg 2
Class 3: IMOCA Open 40
Derek HatfieldSpirit of Canada Canada37 pts 245 days
Kojiro ShiraishiSpirit of Yukoh Japan36 pts 180 days
Alan ParisBTC Velocity Bermuda30 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 NameBoat NameNationalityBoat TypeTime
Bernard StammCheminées Poujoulat  SwitzerlandOpen 60103 days
Kojiro ShiraishiSpirit of Yukoh JapanOpen 60118 days
Unai BasurkoPakea Spain / BasqueOpen 60158 days
Sir Robin Knox-JohnstonSAGA Insurance United KingdomOpen 60159 days
Graham DaltonA Southern Man-AGD New ZealandOpen 50Finished Leg 2
Mike GoldingEcover 3 United KingdomOpen 60Retired Leg 1
Alex ThomsonHugo Boss (1) United KingdomOpen 60Abandoned 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]

FromToExpected StartExpected FinishLength (nm)
Bilbao, SpainFremantle, AustraliaOctober 22, 2006Early December 200611,730
Fremantle, AustraliaNorfolk, Virginia, USAJanuary 7, 2007Mid March 200714,500
Norfolk, Virginia, USABilbao, SpainApril 15, 2007End of April 20073,910

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 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 NameNationalityBoat NameBoat TypeTotal TimeOverall PlaceOverall Points
Brad Van Liew United StatesLe Pingouin
Eco 60
118 days 10 hours 17 mins1st73
Zbigniew Gutkowski PolandOperon Racing
Eco 60
140 days 14 hours 37 mins (including stopping in Brazil due to injury)2nd53
Derek Hatfield CanadaActive House
Eco 60
130 days 15 hours 42 mins3rd51
Chris Stanmore-Major United KingdomSpartan
Eco 60
140 days 4 hours 10 mins4th48
Christophe Bullens BelgiumFive Ocean of Smiles
Eco 60
Retired, Sprint 1

See also

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". 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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