First Mick Jagger now Robin Knox-Johnston

by Media on 25 Aug 2006 Saga, the UK’s leading provider of products and services specifically designed for people aged 50 and over, is to sponsor Sir Robin Knox-Johnston as he competes in the VELUX 5 OCEANS round the world yacht race.

He will set sail in his yacht ‘Saga Insurance’ from Bilbao, Spain on 22 October.

The backing for Knox-Johnston follows hot on Saga's featuring of the 60 plus Rolling Stone, Mick Jagger and selling cut-price tickets for the groups latest 'A Bigger Bang' tour.

At 67, Sir Robin is the oldest – and the most experienced - competitor in the race and completing this, the ultimate solo challenge, proves that age is no barrier to achieving your goals.

In 1969 Sir Robin became the first person to sail non-stop around the planet when he won the Sunday Times Golden Globe. Back then this took a monumental 312 days, almost 40 years on his target for this year’s race is some 200 days shorter at 112 days.

Commenting on the sponsorship, Andrew Goodsell, Chief Executive, Saga said: 'Sir Robin is one of Britain’s greatest adventurers, he embodies the spirit of today’s over 50s who are adventurous and passionate about living life to the full. We are extremely proud and excited to be sponsoring Sir Robin and we wish him every success in the race.'

Sir Robin Knox-Johnston said: 'It’s great to have the backing of a brand like Saga Insurance, whose experience of the over 50s means that they know we lead exciting and dynamic lives. I am looking forward to taking on this challenge, demonstrating once again that age and experience can win out.'

The Velux 5 Oceans was established as the first single-handed around the world race in 1982, and is run every four years. It begins on October 22 and covers 3 gruelling legs from Bilbao (Spain) to Fremantle (Australia) to Norfolk (USA), and then back to Bilbao. Along the way sailors may face huge storms, waves of up to 25 metres, sleep deprivation and extreme isolation. Fewer people have achieved this goal than have climbed Mount Everest.

About Saga

Saga Insurance is part of the Saga Group, which is the UK’s leading provider of products and services specifically designed for people aged 50 and over. With over 2 million customers Saga provides insurance, financial services and holidays, publishes the monthly Saga Magazine and owns and operates three radio stations.

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.

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.

Event website: http://www.velux5oceans.com