VELUX 5 OCEANS – Norfolk Leg Start
- NORFOLK READY FOR A MAGNIFICENT SEND-OFF
HMS OCEAN to Lead Grand Farewell for the Heroes of The Ultimate Solo Challenge
The brave skippers of the VELUX 5 OCEANS, the solo round the world yacht race, are making
final preparations to their yachts down at the Waterside Marina in Norfolk (Virginia, USA),
ahead of the frantic final sprint back across the Atlantic to Bilbao (Basque Country). Having left
Bilbao in October 2006, the solo sailors from around the world are now so close to completing
The Ultimate Solo Challenge. After sailing single-handed through the most desolate oceans on
the planet and surviving the most extreme conditions in any sport, the skippers have been
enjoying the warm hospitality of the City of Norfolk and the people of Hampton Roads.
The formula 1 yachts of the seas will leave Norfolk at 13:00 on Sunday April 15 and the City of
Norfolk is preparing a farewell that none of the skippers will soon forget. The programme kicks
off with the official race exhibition, which opens on Thursday April 12 at 10:00. Entry is free
and there will be shops selling race clothing and official merchandise. A race showcase will
feature the highlights and low points of the race thus far, including the dramatic abandonment
of HUGO BOSS (Alex Thomson) in the Southern Ocean and the rescue by his fellow competitor,
British skipper Mike Golding, who was then forced to retire with a broken mast on ECOVER.
On Friday, April 13, from 16:00 – 15:00, there will be the VELUX 5 OCEANS “Party in the Park”,
sponsored by Sinclair Communications, to officially celebrate the Norfolk stopover. The public is
welcome and encouraged to come on down and enjoy the festivities.
The race restart will be from a point just south of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel. At
precisely 13:00, the starting gun will release these adventurous sailors on their final journey.
But not without an enormous Norfolk send-off that involves a British aircraft carrier, a helicopter
journey out to the start line for the skippers from downtown Norfolk, as well as music and
festivities for the crowds of Norfolk well-wishers waving goodbye to the sailors from the
Waterside Marina.
HMS OCEAN, the largest ship in the Royal Navy’s fleet, has agreed to offer its world class
services to the VELUX 5 OCEANS. She will provide amazing facilities for media and the skippers
alike, as helicopters from HMS OCEAN will take the skippers straight from downtown Norfolk
out to the start area, before delivering them to their yachts via military power boat. HMS
OCEAN will host journalists, guests and VIPs, providing one of the best views of the start at the
mouth of the Chesapeake and stunning images.
- END -
For more information on VELUX 5 OCEANS please visit www.velux5oceans.com, or contact:
Tim Kelly / Justine Ozoux
RACE PRESS OFFICE: + 44 20 7494 1616
Tim Kelly: + 44 (0)7773 325 533
Justine Ozoux: + 44 (0)7824 310 035
E: tim.kelly@pitchpr.com / justine@pitchpr.com
Notes to Editors
Media Spaces on HMS OCEAN April 15:
Arrive at HMS Ocean for 10.00 AM Departure
Norfolk Naval Station, Pier 14, Entry via Gate 3a
ID required with invitation card (supplied once attendance confirmed with press team)
Deadline for confirmation is Wednesday April 12
About the VELUX 5 OCEANS – The Ultimate Solo Challenge
The VELUX 5 OCEANS is the oldest and most established, single-handed round the world yacht race. With a rich
sporting heritage, the race has been contested every four years since 1982, previously under the titles of ‘BOC
Challenge’ and more recently ‘Around Alone.’ The ultimate in human endeavour, more people have climbed Mount
Everest and travelled to the moon, than have completed a solo circumnavigation.
In 2006, the race celebrates its 25th Jubilee year and, with new title sponsors, VELUX, is set to be greater than
ever before. The 30,000 mile three-leg race is scheduled to begin in Bilbao on 22nd October and will stop in
Australia and the USA before returning to Bilbao approximately 6 months later. The introduction of fewer stopovers
and shorter preparation times between legs has been specifically introduced to provide a more cost effective global
marketing opportunity for entrants and their sponsors.
Over the years, the race has consistently attracted a wide spread of entries from around the globe, making heroes
of many celebrated yachtsmen and women, including Mike Golding, Philippe Jeantot, Giovanni Soldini, Jean-Luc
van den Heede, Isabelle Autissier, Bernard Stamm and Emma Richards.
www.velux5oceans.com
About The VELUX Group
VELUX creates better homes by letting daylight and fresh air through the roof. The duct range contains a wide
range of roof windows and skylights in many sizes, types and variants as well as a whole family of decoration and
sunscreening products, roller shutters, installation products, remote control units and solar panels for installation in
the sloping roof. VELUX Technology also supplies original VELUX components to their partners working in the field
of roof window sunscreening.
VELUX is one the strongest brands in the global building materials sector and is sold around the world. The VELUX
Group has production companies in 10 countries and sales companies in nearly 40 countries. The Group is owned
by VKR Holding A/S and, for competitive reasons, the financial results are incorporated into the VKR Group's
consolidated accounts. In 2004, the VKR Group's total turnover was almost DKK 12.7 billion and the result before
tax was DKK 2,097 million.
The core objective of the VELUX Group is described in the Model Company Objective: “It is the Group’s purpose to
establish a number of Model Companies, which cooperate in an exemplary manner. By Model Company we mean a
company working with products useful to society, which treats its customers, suppliers, employees of all categories
and shareholders better than most other companies. A Model Company makes a profit, which can also finance
growth and maintain financial independence.”
In the VELUX Group, results are achieved through united effort. Our core values are commitment, mutual respect,
improvements, local initiatives and thoroughness. At the beginning of 2005, some 8,500 people were employed in
the VELUX Group.
www.VELUX.com
About Clipper Ventures Plc
This year marks the 37th anniversary of Sir Robin Knox-Johnston's historic solo and non-stop circumnavigation in
1970. Now, as Chairman of Clipper Ventures PLC, he is at the forefront of promoting round the world yacht racing.
Clipper Ventures, the marine sports company founded in 1995 and listed on AIM stock market in London in 1999,
is focussed on developing and promoting major events capable of attracting significant participation, income,
media coverage and associated sponsorship revenue. The company owns the rights to the Clipper Round the
World Yacht Race, the VELUX 5 OCEANS, and Zapcat Racing, the world's largest one-design powerboat series.
www.clipper-ventures.com
About Bilbao (Basque Country)
Set in the province of Bizkaia, the City of Bilbao, in a joint initiative with the Diputacion Foral de Bizkaia and the
Basque Government, has committed to be the official host port for both the start and finish of the 2006/7 VELUX 5
OCEANS. Bilbao is the economic capital of the Basque country in the north of the Iberian Peninsula and has
historically strong ties to the oceans. Renowned for its spectacular Guggenheim Museum and having recently
undergone significant urban regeneration and development, the city will provide an outstanding backdrop for the
race. The race will be based in a new marina and waterfront development at the Port of Getxo, which is linked
directly to the city by a new metro system designed by Norman Foster.
www.bilbao.net / www.bizkaia.net
About Fremantle (Western Australia)
At the mouth of the Swan River, the vibrant port town of Fremantle is located 20 minutes' drive southwest of
Perth, Western Australia. Rich in heritage buildings and attractions, maritime history and culture, visitors are
guaranteed to enjoy the relaxed outdoor lifestyle, some of the country’s best beaches, bustling markets, nightlife,
unrivalled sporting facilities and amazing marine adventures. The VELUX 5 Oceans Race Village will be at the
picturesque Fremantle Sailing Club, where the race crews will be able to make use of the world class facilities used
during the recent Clipper 05-06 round the world yacht race, and Whitbreads of the past.
www.westernaustralia.com
About Norfolk, Virginia (USA)
Norfolk, which is home to Naval Station Norfolk, the largest military station in the world, can host hundreds of
vessels at one time including cruise ships, destroyers and submarines and once made history when it berthed five
nuclear aircraft carriers at the same time. The port will provide the skippers and ground crews of the VELUX 5
OCEANS with world class facilities.
The City is bordered by the Chesapeake Bay and the Hampton Roads Harbour, one of the most famous sailing
areas in the USA which attracts hundreds of thousands of yachts and sailing fanatics to the area every year and
has played host to some of the world’s major sailing events including the Volvo Ocean Race and the Mount Gay
Rum Sailing Week. The situation of the City also makes it an idea venue for the VELUX 5 OCEANS providing unique
opportunities to watch the fleet arrive from vantage points on the coast and on the water.
www.norfolk.gov |
