Velux 5 Oceans – Sprint 5 sets sail from Charleston
The Velux 5 Oceans Sprint 5 will begin today from Charleston SC (USA). The four skippers that remain will set off towards La Rochelle, France to complete a global circumnavigation back to where they began their journeys on October 17, 2010.
The skippers are Brad Van Liew (USA), Zbigniew ‘Gutek’ Gutkowski (POL), Derek Hatfield (CAN) and Chris Stanmore-Major (GB). Brad will secure overall victory in the race as long as he successfully completes the final leg. Derek and Hatfield are tied on points and the battle between them to decide second and third on the podium will be fierce.
The Velux 5 Oceans is considered The Ultimate Solo Challenge, the race covers five grueling ocean sprints over nine months and the skippers have already sailed from Europe to Cape Town, South Africa, around the Cape of Good Hope and into the Southern Ocean to Wellington New Zealand, past the most remote spot on earth and around the treacherous Cape Horn to Punta del Este, Uruguay before battling difficult weather patterns up to Charleston.
The race departure ceremony will start from 12 noon (EST) today at the Charleston Maritime Center and the boats will then head out to approximately seven miles offshore for the race start at 3pm (EST).
Velux 5 Oceans: Website
Derek Hatfield gets underway onboard Activehouse, on the final leg of the VELUX 5 OCEANS, Ocean Sprint 5, leaving Charleston in South Carolina, USA to La Rochelle, France. PHOTO CREDIT: Ainhoa Sanchez/w-w- i.com
