Velux 5 Oceans Race- Van Liew goes solo and sole, acquires Open 60

by Team Lazarus on 29 Jan 2010 Legendary US ocean racer and sole USA entrant, Brad Van Liew, is one step closer to competing in his third solo round-the-world race, this time aboard an Open 60 raceboat designed and built specifically for the task. Last week, Van Liew purchased the boat he feels is the best prepared for the extreme conditions that set the Velux 5 Oceans Race apart as The Ultimate Solo Challenge®.

The boat is Pro-Form (ex-Whirlpool, ex-Tiscali), and her pedigree includes first place in the 1999 Fastnet Race and 2nd in the important Transat Jacques Vabre that same year. Pro-Forms was build in 1998 for Catherine Chabaud and was subsequently sailed by Simone Bianchetti and later Marc Thiercelin, and she sports a carbon/Nomex hull, twin daggerboards and rudders, a canting keel, more than 5,000 square feet of sail on a 95-foot mast, and an ultra-light displacement of just 8.5 tons.

Van Liew and his shore support team will sail the high-performance rocket from La Rochelle, France to Charleston, South Carolina, where it will undergo a comprehensive re-fit and the extensive preparation necessary for the Velux 5 Oceans race start in October 2010.

'This boat is a thoroughbred - a true racing machine - and I'm excited to learn her idiosyncrasies as we sail across the Atlantic in the coming weeks,' Brad said. 'You can't imagine how much homework I've done to find the perfect Eco Class challenger, and I am extremely happy to have made a deal for Pro-Form - she's super light, very reliable, and has all the bells and whistles that I need to compete in the 2010-11 Velux.'

Winter Across The Atlantic
Leaving France in late January is always a challenge, and 2010 has already been a brutal year for weather. In fact, the shore team was just shoveling snow from the deck last week. 'It's not fun, but the boat is surely worth it,' said experienced race supporter Jeffrey Wargo. 'And she looks fast even buried in snow.'

The delivery from La Rochelle, France to Charleston, SC will cover an estimated 5,000 miles as they take the longer, safer route via Madeira. Brad and his crew will head South from France until they are firmly in the trade winds, where they'll turn to the West and head to Charleston via the Caribbean. Van Liew's crew consists of Wargo, Open 60 expert JC Caso, and Dr. Kevin Hogan.

Hydrogeneration and Van Liew's 'Zero Emissions' Goal
Two innovative new hydrogenerators have been installed on the boat for the transatlantic delivery and will be a test bed for use during the Velux 5 Oceans Race. The units are designed for maximum efficiency and power output with minimum drag. If testing goes well with the hydrogenerators, solar panels, and wind generators, Van Liew expects to carry out his ambitious eco-friendly plan: To race around the globe without any fossil fuels whatsoever. 'I'm fortunate to have close ties to the leading French Open 60 programs,' Van Liew said. 'These guys have been thinking about this stuff for years, and we're excited to test the technologies they've been working on.' Shore crew JC Caso has a long history of working on the top Open 60 boats, and he has played a major role in bringing Watt and Sea to the campaign for fitting and testing these innovative energy resources.

Eco-Class
Van Liew's new ocean racing campaign targets the exciting Eco 60 Class, and constitutes the only United States entry in the race at this time. The Eco 60 Class recycles earlier generation Open 60s, and the Eco Class has strict rules that insist on renewable onboard energy, rewarding skippers who promote sustainability. The idea was developed by race organizer Clipper Ventures as a solution to the modern generation of boats becoming prohibitively expensive and relying on large amounts of diesel-powered electronics to race competitively. Boats entered in the Eco 60 Class must be built prior to January 1, 2003.

Key Partner
Funding an ocean racing project has proven a difficult task for most, and 'getting to the start line' is known to be almost as hard as racing around the planet. Van Liew has proven a talent for developing strong relationships with major international brands, and his Balance Bar and Tommy Hilfiger campaigns have provided tangible marketing benefits like corporate branding and hospitality. Unique in US solo racers, Brad has consistently provided media returns far above expectations for his sponsors through his energetic communications style. 'We have thankfully acquired seed money to get this project underway,' said Van Liew. 'We are seeking that core commercial partner who wants to enjoy the suite of benefits we can offer as a Title/Naming Sponsor.' Van Liew is hoping to leverage his considerable past experience with both media and corporate sponsors including Tommy, Balance Bar, Panasonic, Nextel, and Honeywell.

History
Van Liew made his name first as the skipper of Balance Bar in the 1998-99 edition of the race, sending in gripping daily reports of a horrific Southern Ocean storm that were read by millions. He returned in the 2002-03 race as the skipper of the colorful and patriotic Tommy Hilfiger Freedom America, winning Class II convincingly while continuing a legacy of communication with the public as he won every leg of the race. Race followers of the Around Alone became addicted to Brad's reports from the far corners of the earth, and he developed significant media interest in the United States as a result of his unique and engaging writing style.

About Brad Van Liew
Brad Van Liew has a bachelor's degree from the University of Southern California. His entrepreneurial spirit has seen him through successful business endeavors in both aviation and sailing. As a professional sailor, Van Liew completed two solo circumnavigations, taking 3rd place as an underdog entrant in the 1998-99 Around Alone race, and claiming victory in the 2002-03 edition of the same event aboard Tommy Hilfiger Freedom America. He broke a world record in 2003 by covering 345 miles in one day aboard his 50-foot monohull. Van Liew has been awarded an array of honors including a US Navy Seamanship Award. His next endeavor will be the Velux 5 Oceans Race 2010-11.

www.oceanracing.org