credit: Ainhoa Sanchez/ onEdition
The title sponsorship is a massive boost for Gutek’s campaign, and follows on from his purchase of proven Eco 60 Globe in August. Globe will now be renamed Operon Racing. She will be completely repainted and will proudly display Operon’s livery on the yacht's hulls, decks and sails when Gutek starts the 30,000-mile Ultimate Solo Challenge on October 17.
Gutek arrived in La Rochelle, France, the home of the VELUX 5 OCEANS, last week after completing a solo qualifying passage on Operon Racing, during which the yacht was put through its paces. Yesterday the yacht was lifted out of the water ready for repainting in Operon’s colours. Meanwhile Gutek flew back to his home country to announce the news to journalists.
“It is fantastic to secure a title sponsor at this point in the campaign,” Gutek said. “I am very happy to have Operon onboard for the VELUX 5 OCEANS.”
Lidia Mikołajczyk-Gmur, Director General of VELUX Poland, added: “We got involved with the VELUX 5 OCEANS because as a producer of windows and solar panels we try to tame the same forces of nature as sailors do. We hope that Gutek will be not only the first Pole to take part in the VELUX 5 OCEANS but also the first to race around the world solo.”
Operon Racing, formerly Bagages Superior, is a former Vendée Globe winner - in 1991 French solo sailing legend and VELUX 5 OCEANS veteran Alain Gautier steered her to glory. Four years later she returned to the Vendée Globe with Eric Dumont, just missing out on a podium place to finish fourth. Operon Racing is also a veteran of three Transat Jacques Vabre races. In 2000 Operon Racing was rebuilt and five years later she was given a complete overhaul, putting her back at the front line of modern racing yachts.
One of Poland's best known and most experienced sailors, Gutek was a watch captain onboard WARTA-POLPHARMA in The Race, the non-stop race around the world for multihulls. In 2005 he skippered the ORMA 60 Bonduelle in the Nokia Oops Cup. He also attempted to break the monohull record for a non-stop circumnavigation onboard the Volvo 60 Bank BPH (formerly ASSA ABLOY), but damage forced the crew to Cape Town after 9,500 miles.
From Velux 5 Oceans
