In 2014 the ninth edition of the 5 OCEANS will be the first solo race around the world with equal chances

Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, President of Clipper Ventures who organised the VELUX 5 OCEANS, confirmed that the ninth edition in 2014-15 will welcome not only the successful Eco 60 Class, which has shown its durability during the 2010-11 race, but will also welcome the SolOceans One Design Class. It will allow sailors, both men and women, to race solo around the world on a level playing field. Thanks to its reasonable and controlled budgets, a good number of skippers and sponsors of all nationalities will therefore be able to take each other on using the same weapons in this unique adventure around the world.

Credit : SailingOne

Velux 5 Oceans / Gutek heading for port with broken forestay in Velux 5 Oceans sprint four

POLISH ocean racer Zbigniew 'Gutek' Gutkowski is heading for port after the forestay on his Eco 60 yacht Operon Racing broke. Although the rig is secure, the damage has forced Gutek, who was lying fourth in ocean sprint four, to turn his boat round and head for Fortaleza on the northern coast of Brazil to carry out the vital repairs.

Gutek was this morning around 300 nautical miles from the port, which will take him around 48 hours to cover. He had just sailed into the Northern Hemisphere and was eight miles from the Equator when he sustained the damage around 0400 UTC this morning.

The 36-year-old explained: "There was a wind change so I went to the bow to drop the gennaker and hoist up the Solent. When I finished my job I was tidying the ropes when I heard a loud bang. It was pitch black but I had a head torch and I saw the sail in the water. When I made it up on deck I saw a fitting connecting the forestay to the mast was broken. It's very solid piece of equipment dealing with the strongest forces onboard - there is nothing more solid than a stay fitting.

Velux 5 Oceans / Brad Van Liew leads Velux 5 Oceans fleet into sprint four timed run

VELUX 5 OCEANS skipper Brad Van Liew has this morning passed the first speed gate of ocean sprint four signalling the start of his timed run. Each of the five ocean sprints feature timed runs, with bonus points awarded to the skipper who makes the fastest passage between two points.

For ocean sprint four, the speed gates are located at the latitudes 5ºS and 5ºN, mirroring the speed gates set on ocean sprint one from La Rochelle to Cape Town. Brad, skipper of Le Pingouin, is the first of the four skippers to enter the sprint four timed run zone.

So far the 43-year-old veteran racer has picked up the full three bonus points on each leg after posting the quickest times between the speed gates. During ocean sprint one, Brad passed from 5ºN to 5ºS in two days, six hours and six minutes. However the notorious Doldrums, which lie right between the two gates, are typically not as active at this time of the year, possibly allowing for a quicker passage this time round.

Velux 5 Oceans / CSM goes into stealth mode

British ocean racer Chris Stanmore-Major today informed the race management of the VELUX 5 OCEANS that he will enter stealth mode at 1800 UTC on Saturday April 2. His position will therefore remain hidden from the public and the other competitors for a 24 hour period. His last position from 1200 UTC April 2 will remain the published position on the race viewer until it is next updated at 1800 UTC on Sunday April 3. The race management will continue to monitor his position as usual every 30 minutes.

Velux 5 Oceans / Tough times at head of Velux 5 Oceans fleet for Brad

He may have a 50-mile lead over his nearest rival but life at the front of the VELUX 5 OCEANS fleet has been anything but easy for Brad Van Liew and Le Pingouin. As the 43-year-old American battles through the unpredictable weather systems of the South Atlantic he has had to contend with continuously changing wind speeds and directions, searing heat and lack of sleep as he pushes hard to escape the clutches of his fellow ocean racers.

"It's been pretty difficult over the last 24 hours - a very hard day with no sleep," Brad said this morning. "One minute you have a tonne of breeze, the next minute you don't have any. The wind direction has been weird and it's actually been pretty rough. It's been a challenge for sure. I've been getting little catnaps here and there, but no real sleep. It's pretty tiring right now."

Velux 5 Oceans / Gutek leads Velux 5 Oceans fleet out of Punta Del Este as Ocean sprint four starts

IT was Polish ocean racer Zbigniew 'Gutek' Gutkowski who took an early lead over his race rivals as the fourth ocean sprint of the VELUX 5 OCEANS got underway from Punta del Este today. The 36-year-old former Polish national dinghy champion snuck across the start line in Operon Racing five seconds in front of fellow competitor and overall race leader Brad Van Liew on Le Pingouin.

In one of the closest starts of the round the world race so far, all four boats blasted across the line in Punta del Este bay within a few minutes of each other. Gutek laid down his intentions for the race ahead rounding the first mark ahead of the fleet but close behind were Le Pingouin, Derek Hatfield's Active House and Chris Stanmore-Major's Spartan.

Velux 5 Oceans / CSM jumps second as Velux 5 Oceans sprint three reaches climax

BRITISH skipper Stanmore-Major has dramatically stolen second place in a thrilling finale to the third ocean sprint of the VELUX 5 OCEANS. Just a week ago the 33-year-old was around 200 nautical miles behind race rivals Derek Hatfield and Zbigniew 'Gutek' Gutkowski who were engaged in a fight for second and third positions.

credit: Chris Stanmore-Major/w-w-i.com

But after slowly reeling in his opposition, CSM took advantage of better breeze on his more offshore route up the coast of South America and passed the pair overnight to claim second position. The 1200 UTC position report gave him a lead over third placed Gutek of 36 miles, with Derek a further ten miles behind.

Velux 5 Oceans / Brad Van Liew winsVelux 5 Oceans ocean sprint three (Video)

BRAD Van Liew added yet another notch to his belt today to claim victory in the third sprint of the VELUX 5 OCEANS. The 43-year-old American crossed the finish line in Punta del Este, Uruguay, in his Eco 60 Le Pingouin at 5.16pm local time (1916 UTC) to make it three wins out of three legs so far in the 30,000-mile circumnavigation billed as The Ultimate Solo Challenge.

Unlike his other race wins, Brad was not met on the dock by his wife and children - but instead the people of Punta del Este gave a warm welcome to one of their favourite ocean racers. It is the second time Brad has sailed into in Punta del Este with the VELUX 5 OCEANS, having competed in the 1998 edition of the race, then known as the Around Alone.

Velux 5 Oceans / All skippers safety past Cape Horn and a Major Battle on at the Back of the fleet

After almost three weeks at sea, the third ocean sprint of the VELUX 5 OCEANS is now firmly on the home straight towards Punta del Este and the battle for positions at the back of the fleet couldn't be tighter. Whilst the toughest part of the 6000 nautical mile leg is now over, there is no time to relax as changeable winds will make the next day or so crucial for the final standings.

Race leader, Brad Van Liew, passed Cape Horn in perfect conditions on Monday 21st, but has endured light winds since turning up into the Atlantic.  Although it allowed him time 'to get some jobs done' at first, it has lead to a somewhat frustrating week for him, especially as the rest of the pack are making good progress.

Velux 5 Oceans / Keel Nightmare for Gutek as Cape Horn approches

VELUX 5 OCEANS solo skipper Zbigniew 'Gutek' Gutkowski is today facing a nervous rounding of Cape Horn after developing keel problems on his Eco 60 yacht Operon Racing. The 36-year-old Polish yachtsman reported hearing dull knocking sounds as his yacht smashed through huge Southern Ocean waves on the approach to Cape Horn, the Everest of sailing and the pinnacle of leg three of the VELUX 5 OCEANS. On closer inspection Gutek found to his horror that the pins joining Operon Racing's keel to the hull were moving.

It is suspected that a metal part covering the two pins that hold the keel in place has broken, allowing the four-tonne keel to move around 3mm at the top of the keel blade. The movement makes a knocking noise as Operon Racing accelerates down waves.

Velux 5 Oceans / Brad van Liew, the first to the Horn

VELUX 5 OCEANS skipper Brad Van Liew has sailed into the history books rounding the iconic Cape Horn solo for a third time. The 43-year-old veteran ocean racer is the only American ever to race round the notorious landmark singlehanded three times.

Brad was the first of the VELUX 5 OCEANS skippers to round the Horn after setting sail from Wellington, New Zealand, on February 6 bound for Punta del Este in Uruguay. The current leg frontrunner and overall race leader is now heading out of the Southern Ocean for the first time in almost three months. Brad has around 1,300 nautical miles to sail through the South Atlantic to Punta.

Velux 5 Oceans / Velux 5 Oceans fleet expected to round Cape Horn within a week

THE VELUX 5 OCEANS fleet continue to make quick progress through the Southern Ocean bound for the ultimate landfall for sailors: Cape Horn. After 13 days at sea the fleet have already covered more than 3,000 nautical miles as they sprint towards Punta del Este in Uruguay.

Out in front by just over 200 nautical miles is overall race leader and winner of the first two sprints Brad Van Liew on Le Pingouin. Zbigniew 'Gutek' Gutkowski's Operon Racing and Derek Hatfield's Active House are once again locked in battle for second and third positions, just 23 miles separating them at the 1200 UTC position report.

Once again it is turning into a thrilling fight, with Gutek ahead but Derek chipping away each day at his lead. In the 24 hours leading up to midday UTC Active House was the fastest boat in the fleet, averaging 12.3 knots, almost half a knot quicker than Gutek.

Velux 5 Oceans / Brad van Liew looks ahead to the Horn

VELUX 5 OCEANS sprint three leader Brad Van Liew has revealed he has started to plan his rounding of the infamous Cape Horn, the most southerly tip of South America. Up until now the 43-year-old American has been focused on weather systems approaching from behind as the VELUX 5 OCEANS fleet fly through the Southern Ocean powered east by prevailing winds.

But with less than 2,000 nautical miles to go until Brad must navigate his Eco 60 Le Pingouin around the dangerous waters off Tierra del Fuego, an archipelago of islands that includes Cape Horn, his thoughts have now turned to what lies ahead.

Velux 5 Oceans / Wet and Wild Start for Velux 5 Oceans sprint three (Foto)

IT was a wild, wet and windy start to the third sprint of the VELUX 5 OCEANS solo round the world yacht race today as the four ocean racers blasted out of Wellington Harbour. Grey, drizzly conditions with strong 25 to 30 knot winds greeted the skippers as they set sail on the sprint to Punta del Este Uruguay, the third of five legs that make up The Ultimate Solo Challenge.

credit: onEdition/w-w-i.com

Despite the weather, hundreds of people flocked to Queens Wharf in central Wellington to watch the emotional departure ceremony before thousands lined the city's waterfront for the race start which took place just a few hundred metres from the shore.

Velux 5 Oceans / BRAD VAN LIEW CLAIMS VICTORY IN VELUX 5 OCEANS SPRINT TWO

AMERICAN solo ocean racer Brad Van Liew today made it two wins from two ocean sprints as he sailed into Wellington, New Zealand, to claim victory in second sprint of the VELUX 5 OCEANS solo round the world yacht race. For the 42-year-old from Charleston, South Carolina, it brought to an end a gruelling month-long slog through the Southern Ocean from Cape Town in South Africa alone on his Eco 60 yacht Le Pingouin.

credit: Ainhoa Sanchez/w-w-i.com

During the leg, the second of five that make up the VELUX 5 OCEANS, Brad sailed 7,682 nautical miles in 30 days, nine hours and 49 minutes at an average speed of 10.53 knots. His win earns him the maximum 12 points and places him firmly at the top of the VELUX 5 OCEANS leaderboard after two ocean sprints.

Velux 5 Oceans / Food supplies running low for Derek Hatfield days from Velux 5 Oceans finish line

HE'S just spent several days slamming into waves and battling headwinds but now VELUX 5 OCEANS skipper Derek Hatfield has another problem to contend with - his food supplies are running out. With 600 nautical miles - or around three days sailing - to go to reach the ocean sprint two finish line in Wellington, the 58-year-old Canadian has only enough food onboard Active House for four more meals. After accidentally discharging his main water tanks just a week out of Cape Town and with a broken water maker on Active House, his water supply is also worryingly low.

In order to maintain the energy needed to meet the physical demands of singlehanded Eco 60 sailing, the VELUX 5 OCEANS skippers will often get through two or three freeze-dried food pouches each day. Uncharacteristic Southern Ocean weather systems after leaving Cape Town have extended the predicted duration of the leg by over a week. Now, after 30 days at sea, Derek now faces the possibility of several days' sailing with very little to eat or drink.

Velux 5 Oceans / Christophe Bullens retires

BELGIAN solo sailor Christophe Bullens has been left with no choice but to retire from the VELUX 5 OCEANS following a string of technical problems onboard his yacht. After a catalogue of breakages and equipment failures the final nail in the coffin came just an hour after setting sail from Cape Town for the third time when the mast track onboard Five Oceans of Smiles too ripped out.

Christophe's return to Cape Town means that he will not be able to complete the second ocean sprint of the solo round the world yacht race, known as The Ultimate Solo Challenge, before it restarts again from Wellington, New Zealand, on February 6. With the second leg taking the fleet through the notorious Southern Ocean, fears about the safety of Five Oceans of Smiles too further added to Christophe's decision to pull out of the race. It is a bitter disappointment for the 49-year-old who has overcome so many problems and shown so much grit and determination since the VELUX 5 OCEANS started in La Rochelle, France, in October.

Velux 5 Oceans / Lonely Christmas at sea for Velux 5 Oceans Racers

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.

credit: Brad Van Liew/w-w-i.com

Velux 5 Oceans / Christophe Bullens heading back to Cape Town

Today at approximately 10.30 UTC Christophe Bullens contacted the Velux 5 Oceans race headquarters to tell them he had rudder problems aboard his 60' yacht Five Oceans of Smiles Too. He felt only option was to return to Cape Town to carry out repairs. Since then, we have received more details of his problems: his port rudder has sheared a bolt and other bolts have come loose, and he is unable to tighten them while single-handed at sea.

Velux 5 Oceans / Velux 5 Oceans skippers to take on mighty southern ocean in

If the first ocean sprint from La Rochelle to Cape Town wasn’t hard enough, the VELUX 5 OCEANS is about to get a lot tougher. Howling winds, freezing temperatures, mountainous seas and icebergs await the five ocean racers as they leave the comfort of Cape Town and head into the bleak expanses of the Indian Ocean bound for Wellington in New Zealand. It is here they will encounter some of the worst weather conditions known to man – and they will face them alone. More than 7,000 nautical miles, and countless obstacles, lie between the skippers and their next port of call.