Veterans drop-in to visit VELUX 5 Oceans start

by Tim Kelly on 14 Apr 2007 With only two days to go to the start of final leg of the VELUX 5 Oceans, the single-handed round the world yacht race, the City of Norfolk is set to celebrate their very own ‘Veterans Day’.

The historic naval city, which is hosting the yachts of The Ultimate Solo Challenge, will tomorrow welcome ten sailing legends for a weekend of festivities to honour their amazing achievements. A contingent of past competitors from North America will visit the Waterside Marina and Race Village in downtown Norfolk to celebrate the 25 year history of the VELUX 5 Oceans and wish the current skippers the best of luck as they head back to Europe.

Rarely do the members of such an elite and revered club gather together in such large numbers and the VELUX 5 Oceans is proud to welcome the heroes of past editions of the race and honour their achievements. Sailors from North America have long embraced the VELUX 5 Oceans challenge and had a strong influence in previous races since the event first began back in 1982. As the City of Norfolk celebrates its own impressive naval history and ties to the oceans, so Velux are pleased to remember the history of solo sailing in North America.

The ten visiting skippers, listed below, will tour the yachts, meet the skippers, greet organisers and participate in the activities in downtown Norfolk on Saturday with VIPs, before getting out on the water in a small regatta hosted on the Elizabeth River. The members of this historic hall of fame will then watch the start of leg three from onboard HMS OCEAN, the Royal Navy helicopter carrier, bidding farewell from the USA to the fleet.

Amongst the current skippers in the VELUX 5 Oceans, Bernard Stamm and Kojiro Shiraishi are already members of this special group. Sir Robin Knox-Johnston was the first man to ever solo circumnavigate the world without stopping and is therefore the ultimate pioneer in the sport, but he has never before participated in this race. Graham Dalton has tried before and failed, and will surely be hoping that this time he can complete this mammoth task. And Unai Basurko will join this illustrious group as a young man after he completes his first ever attempt to sail around the world alone.

Bruce Schwab (USA): One of the biggest names in American solo sailing, Bruce finished fifth in the last Around Alone (2002-03) in the Open 60 class onboard Ocean Planet. He went on to participate in the Vendee Globe in 2004, becoming the first American to complete the famous non-stop race, finishing 9th. Still actively solo sailing and looking to race again in the Vendee Globe, Schwab will celebrate his birthday on Sunday as the fleet heads off into the Atlantic.

Derek Hatfield (CAN): Hatfield, who has just finished building a brand new Open 60, had originally aspired to participate in this edition of the VELUX 5 OCEANS, but ultimately could not get the boat ready in time to make the start line. Derek won Class III (Open 40) of the 2002-03 Around Alone race in Spirit of Canada, but will now race around the world in the next Vendee.

Richard Konkolski (USA): Although born in Czechoslovakia, Richard has been a naturalised US citizen since 1994. A true sportsman, Richard has been heavily involved in the history of this race, from competing in the original 1982 BOC Challenge and the following race in 1986, finishing 3rd and 5th respectively, to helping to shape the race in the next decade as the Around Alone. His commitment to the race led him to defect from Czechoslovakia and settle in the USA, changing his language, habits, culture and homeland.

David White (USA): A true veteran of the race, Dave competed in the inaugural race in 1982 on Gladiator but was forced to retire after leg one. However, he returned in following race, the 1986 BOC Challenge, in his yacht Legend Securities, and succeeded in his dream, finishing 8th after 164 days.

Mark Schrader (USA): Mark entered the 1986 BOC Challenge in Class II, and completed the challenge in Newport, Rhode Island, after 175 days onboard Lone Star.

Jean Pierre Mouligne (FRA): Although Mouligne originally hails from the sailing Mecca of France, he has lived for many years in Rhode Island. Mouligne won Class II in the 1998 Around Alone onboard Cray Valley against an impressive field, and continues to live his life on the water through work in the maritime industry and sailing with his family.

Tim Kent (USA): Tim Kent is another well-known name in sailing and finished second in Class II in the last edition of the race, the 2002 Around Alone.

John Hughes (CAN): John holds dual citizenship in Canada and Britain, having been born in London, but now lives in Nova Scotia and represented Canada back in the 1986 BOC Challenge, finishing 8th in Class II, only 30 days behind the famous American sailor Mike Plant.

Alan Paris MBE (BER): The Bermudan native sailed his Open 40 BTC Velocity in the 2002-03 Around Alone, battling it out against Derek Hatfield and Kojiro Shiraishi in Class III.

Arnet Taylor (USA): Sailed onboard Thursday Child, in the Around Alone 1994, finishing 6th in Class I in a field that boasted Isabelle Autissier and Christophe Auguin.