Oscar Mead launches Velux RTW Solo campaign

by Team Oscar Mead on 30 Mar 2010 Although he’s not ready to hit the start line yet, 19 year old Oscar Mead has today confirmed his intention to enter the 2010 Velux 5 Oceans Round the World singlehanded yacht race. The Velux, which starts on October 22nd 2010 from La Rochelle, France and will finish 6 months later after stops in South Africa, New Zealand, Brazil and the USA has been won by some of the worlds leading solo sailors, and Oscar is setting out to try and join that list.

Oscar was the youngest ever finisher in the legendary OSTAR (singlehanded across the North Atlantic) last year. Assuming he makes the start line of the Velux, Oscar will be 20 at start time, and be the youngest ever competitor. But he has already said he is aiming to be at the start as a 'race-worthy contender. I know that lots of young people are doing all sorts of sailing because they are trying to be the 'youngest ever' at something or another, but that’s not me. I am planning to enter the Velux as a race - not only as an adventure - and certainly not to try to be the youngest competitor. I have to finish University as well, and luckily this race fits nicely into that schedule!'

Since the OSTAR, Oscar has been hard at work at Southampton Solent University, who are again backing his race project. Oscar will take a year off for the Velux before finishing his last year at Solent Uni when he gets back from his lap of the planet. He also did bow on the winning Etchells One Design in the British National Championships last year, and has led the Southampton Solent University Rowing team in his other great passion over the winter.

Oscar said 'I have considered my options going forward after the OSTAR very carefully, I know that I have to continue to develop all aspects of my sailing ability, and plan to do everything from racing one-design keel boats, through to Open 60 sailing. At this point however I have to recognise that the single biggest obstacle to being a properly funded pro sailor, is finding the sponsorship, I feel that doing the Velux will both develop the appropriate skills, as well as allow me to build my profile on the back of the OSTAR. After that it would be back to One Designs, and possibly Figaro racing to build my race experience, before a possible Vendee entry.

The 'Team Oscar Mead 199 Club': A once in a lifetime opportunity for all serious sailors

With the race start only 6 months away, Oscar has been fortunate to land support three weeks ago from an as-yet unnamed sponsor, securing 40% of his projected race budget. This has enabled him to start the process of acquiring his chosen boat, which is now well underway.

That still leaves Oscar some way from starting, as the boat needs some work doing to it and to fund this Team Oscar Mead is today launching a supporters club, aiming to raise the balance of his minimum funding with his 'Once in a Lifetime' plan.

Opening today, Team Oscar Mead will be offering 199 limited places for supporters to join his campaign for a donation of GBP1,000 (US$1,500) which will secure a day’s sailing with Oscar on his Open 60.

This is truly a 'Once in a Lifetime' opportunity for people to sail an Open 60, not with a reef in on a corporate day out, but fast and furious as Oscar trains hard for the Velux (yes, certain wags will no doubt point out that with a bunch of enthusiastic supporters on board it will hardly be singlehanded training, but it will be ocean time and that’s what counts!). So, if you fancy booking your slot, or if you just want to support one of the world’s top young guns, email a pledge of support to teamoscarmead@rocketmail.com or visit www.teamoscarmead.co.uk .

The search for a title sponsor will continue apace, but without underwritten funding being in place within four weeks Team Oscar Mead won’t have the time to make the start line. With the fabulous support that Oscar got in the OSTAR, the Team Oscar Mead 199 Supporters Club is a solution to the timing issue which will, at the same time, deliver a once in a lifetime opportunity for 199 enthusiastic sailors.

Oscar said after announcing his campaign 'I thought long and hard about what to do after the OSTAR, and I know this is a big step, but I need to move on from the last race and this is the logical way forwar. Once I am back from the Velux I will have one more year of Uni to finish and then I can seriously think about doing a Figaro campaign and some more one design sailing before shooting for the Vendee in 2016, not as an adventurer but as a racer. I spoke with many top solo sailors and they were all supportive of the program, so here I am!'

Oscar has lined up the purchase of an Open 60 in France and will be flying to inspect the yacht within the next 10 days. After that it will be a spring of University work while the boat is taken into the shed and wound up ready for a summer of sailing and the start from La Rochelle in 203 days time.

To be one of 'The 199', or for more information please contact:

Team Oscar Mead
Phone +44 7503 461259
teamoscarmead@rocketmail.com

or visit the website www.teamoscarmead.co.uk
or follow us on Facebook 'Team Oscar Mead'

Note
The minimum number of supporters to make the project viable is 101 so until Team Oscar Mead gets to that level only pledges of support are being sought. An announcement will be made as soon as the first target is reached. The supporters club will be limited to the first 199 applicants.