Velux 5 Oceans skippers face Christmas at sea

by Velux 5 Oceans on 23 Dec 2010 From the sailors at sea in the Velux 5 Oceans.

As you tuck into your turkey and trimmings surrounded by friends and family this Christmas, spare a thought for the intrepid skippers currently racing round the world solo in the Velux 5 Oceans yacht race. Each ocean racer will spend Christmas Day alone at sea in the Southern Ocean, one of the most desolate places on Earth, notorious for its mountainous seas, howling winds and freezing temperatures.

No Christmas carols, no mince pies, no chestnuts roasting on an open fire, just another day’s racing through one of the world’s most hostile oceans. A week after setting sail from Cape Town on the second of five sprints that make up the round the world race, the fleet of Eco 60 yachts not only have to contend with challenging weather conditions – they must also face Christmas alone.

It’s especially tough on the skippers who have young children, including Derek Hatfield, Brad Van Liew and Zbigniew Gutkowski. Thanks to the state-of-the-art onboard communications system each skipper has onboard their yachts they will be able to make calls to loved ones – but it is no substitute for being there in person to watch your children excitedly opening presents from Santa or sitting round a table with family to enjoy a Christmas dinner.

For the skippers, Christmas Day is just one more day at sea. The race is always on, and as the fleet punch south towards the prevailing westerly winds that will shoot them towards the finish line in New Zealand, some 6,000 nautical miles away, they must remain more vigilant and focused than ever.

'I’m ok with spending Christmas at sea but obviously the big thing for me is missing the kids a lot,' said American skipper Brad Van Liew, missing Christmas with his family as a result of competing in the VELUX 5 OCEANS. 'Having young children who are big Santa fans takes the fun out of being out on a boat alone in the Southern Ocean. It’s hard missing Christmas with them but other than that I’m cool. I’ve got the boat dolled up a little bit. I’ve got a little African Christmas tree sat next to me with little ornaments on, some battery-powered Christmas lights, it looks like a Mexican restaurant!'

Instead of the traditional Christmas roast turkey, British skipper Chris Stanmore-Major will be celebrating the big day with a freeze-dried curry. 'I will just be trying not to think about turkey and all the trimmings!' he said. 'I’m actually really looking forward to Christmas, it’s a time of year I really enjoy.'

To download Christmas photos of the skippers as well as audio files of the sailors talking about facing Christmas at sea, click here

Chris Stanmore-Major: 'I’m actually really looking forward to Christmas, it’s a time of year I really enjoy. I love putting the tree up, buying presents and having everyone over – the whole nine yards. Although I won’t exactly be able to do that out here I have a bag of Christmas decorations and a little tree so I can make Spartan feel festive. The decorations might only be up for one day though because otherwise they would get trashed! I will definitely make something special of Christmas Day. I’ll call the other boats and see what the guys are up to and call my family and friends. I don’t think I’ll feel lonely at all. I'll be enjoying a freeze dried curry for Christmas lunch, just trying not to think about turkey and all the trimmings.'

Gutek: 'I have a special Christmas cake, two in fact - one is sort of gingerbread and other is a fruit cake. So I think I will open these, and it will do. I don't think I will make a lot reflections on this day, I will probably not enough time for that. But I have some traditional Polish Christmas wafer, red tablecloth and some little piece of hay we in Poland use to put under the plate. But I don’t have the plate! One more thing I have is well baked piece of ham I got from our Polish landlady in Cape Town. We'll see how the weather will look like.'

Brad Van Liew: 'I’m ok with spending Christmas at sea but obviously the big thing for me is missing the kids a lot. Having young children who are big Santa fans takes the fun out of being out on a boat alone in the Southern Ocean. The first time I did it it wasn’t a big deal, the second time was harder because Tate had just been born but she didn’t know what Christmas was then. It’s hard missing Christmas with them but other than that I’m cool. I’ve got the boat dolled up a little bit. I’ve got a little African Christmas tree sat next to me with little ornaments on, some battery-powered Christmas lights, it looks like a Mexican restaurant! I haven’t decided what I’m going to eat yet. If the weather isn’t too bad maybe I will take a bit of time to actually make something to eat because it’s a bit of a distraction.'

Derek Hatfield: 'I don’t feel too bad about spending Christmas away from my family. I have been away for Christmas before – all these major ocean races seem to involve being away for Christmas. It will be a bit emotional but I will be able to call in. I know the kids will be with Patianne and their grandparents and having a good time. It’s a special day at home but for me it’s just another day racing. All the days meld together so when you’re alone at sea there is no real special day. It’s just another race day.'

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