VELUX 5 OCEANS starts from Bilbao, Spain

by Tim Kelly / Justine Ozoux on 23 Oct 2006 The first leg of the VELUX 5 OCEANS, the world’s toughest solo round-the-world yacht race today started from Bilbao, Spain. Six international skippers crossed the startline in the Bay of Biscay at 13:00 (local) Sunday led by Briton Alex Thomson aboard ‘Hugo Boss’, the youngest skipper in the race.

Crossing the line in second and third place were Mike Golding (GBR) and Bernard Stamm (SUI), in a southwesterly breeze gusting 15 to 20 knots. By the turning mark, a one and a half nautical mile reach across the bay, the fleet had split into two packs determined by the skipper’s sail choices.

Thomson, followed by Golding, aboard ‘Ecover’ led Stamm, all with full sails, over three minutes ahead of the second group. Local hero Unai Basurko (ESP) headed up the chasing pack all with reefed sails, with Kojiro Shiraishi (JPN) and Sir Robin Knox-Johnston (GBR) hot on his heels.

Unable to make the start today, Tim Troy (USA) and Graham Dalton (NZ) are both frantically making last minute adjustments to their boats and expect to set off later this week.

During an exciting departure ceremony in which emotions were running high, each skipper stepped onto the stage to share his final words with the huge crowds lining the race village. One by one, the skippers walked alone down the pontoon for the last time, having said their final goodbyes to family and friends. As the skippers made their way out to the starting area under moody grey skies, two Spanish tugs provided a water salute to the fleet, surrounded by hundreds of spectator boats. Loud music and cheers from the crowd lining the shore ensured the fleet was seen off in style, the city of Bilbao looking forward to welcoming them back safely at the race finish next April.

Alex Thomson, dressed in his trademark Hugo Boss suit and shades commented:

'We sail west about 180 miles to Cape Finistère and will be very very close to the land. It’s an offshore wind so we're going to get very little sleep over the next 36 hours. I feel well prepared, I knew we’d done everything when I went down to the boat yesterday and my boat captain was velcroing a lighter above the cooker - when that’s on the job list you know you’re ready!'

Unai Basurko, the local Basque skipper commented:

'The weather forecast is not good. We have strong southwesterly winds predicted, so the passage from here to Cape Finistère will be hard. We will have to sail very safe and slow over the next few days. Definitely we have to survive before we can start racing.'

Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, the oldest skipper in the race and first man to ever sail solo round-the-world in 1969 commented:

'The weather is not looking at all nice. It’s going to be four or five days beating with the wind right on the nose. I suspect none of us are going to try and prove anything during that. Let’s get out there and go sailing – I’m tired of this preparation now, I just want to get on the water.'

Bernard Stamm, winner of the previous edition of the race four years ago commented:

'I think that all of us here share the same feelings, we just can’t wait to go now. I was more nervous about the inport race last Saturday than I am now – this kind of racing is what our boats are designed for.'

Kojiro Shiraishi, of Japan, commented:

'I have had a very emotional time here in Bilbao, everyone here has treated me beautifully. The local people, the other shore crews, I have enjoyed my time here in Bilbao immensely, thank you.'

Mike Golding, one of the pre-race favourites commented:

'We’re looking forward to a great race, we’ve got some great competition, some great characters, a great spread of nationalities and I that will make for a really interesting event. For me it is the one race I haven’t finished, so this time it is very important to finish and to do well.'

Current Leaderboard (1300 GMT):

1st Bernard Stamm (Cheminees Poujoulat)
2nd Alex Thomson (Hugo Boss)
3rd Mike Golding (Ecover)
4th Kojiro Shiraishi (Spirit of Yukoh)
5th Unai Basurko (Pakea)
6th Robin Knox Johnston (Saga Insurance)

The VELUX 5 OCEANS is the longest race for any individual in any sport. Over the first few days, the fleet will make their way along the northern coast of Spain to Cape Finistère where they will turn south towards the Southern Ocean. Weather conditions look set to be brutal as the skippers reach this highly congested shipping area in the early hours of Tuesday morning, which could prove a stressful beginning to a 12,000 mile leg to Fremantle, Western Australia.

However, all of the skippers know that this race is a marathon and not a sprint. During the 30,000 miles sailed in the VELUX 5 OCEANS race, the yachts will encounter some of the most extreme sea and weather conditions on the planet. The first boats are expected to arrive in Fremantle, Western Australia at the beginning of December.