Around Alone

The Velux 5 Oceans Race was a round-the-world single-handed yacht race, sailed in stages, managed by Clipper Ventures since 2000. Its most recent name comes from its main sponsor Velux. Originally known as the BOC Challenge, for the title sponsor BOC, the first edition was in 1982. In the late 1990s the race was renamed the Around Alone. The 2010-11 race was the last to take place and attracted just five entries. The event has not been held since.

Overview

The race was established in 1982 as the ''BOC Challenge'', with main sponsorship from BOC. The race was inspired by the ''Golden Globe Race'', which was the first single-handed round-the-world yacht race. Although the ''Golden Globe'' was a non-stop race, the ''BOC Challenge'' concept was for a single-handed round-the-world race, to be run in stages (in contrast to the ''Vendée Globe'', which is non-stop). As the longest single-handed event in the world, it was regarded as one of sailing's ultimate challenges.

The race was run every four years. The first edition was won by Philippe Jeantot, who won all four legs of the race with an overall elapsed time of just over 159 days. In 1998, the race was renamed the ''Around Alone''; for 2006, it is known as the Velux 5 Oceans Race.

File:1982-1983 and 1986-1987 BOC Challenge map-fr.svg, 1982-1983 Route
File:1990-1991 BOC Challenge map-fr.svg, 1990-1991 Route
File:1994-1995 BOC Challenge map-fr.svg, 1994-1995 Route
File:Around Alone 1998-1999 map-fr.svg, 1998-1999 Route
File:Around Alone 2002 map-fr.svg, 2002 Route
File:2006-2007 Velux 5 Oceans map-fr.svg, 2006-2007 Route
File:2010-2011 Velux 5 Oceans map-fr.svg, 2010-2011 Route

Past results

The ''BOC Challenge'' 1982–83

Raced over four legs; Newport, Rhode Island — Cape Town — Sydney — Rio de Janeiro — Newport. Two classes of boat were entered: Class 1, 45–56 feet (13.7–17.1 m); and Class 2, 32–44 feet (9.7–13.4 m).

Results:

The ''BOC Challenge'' 1986–87

Raced over four legs; Newport, Rhode Island — Cape Town — Sydney — Rio de Janeiro — Newport. Two classes of boat were entered: Class 1, 50–60 feet (15.2–18.3 m); and Class 2, 40–50 feet (12.2–15.2 m). New safety rules were introduced for this race, including compulsory watertight bulkheads and a simple stability check.

Results:

The ''BOC Challenge'' 1990–91

The course was changed for this edition, although it was still divided into four legs: Newport, Rhode Island — Cape Town — Sydney — Punta del Este — Newport. Three classes of boat were entered: Class 1, 50–60 feet (15.2–18.3 m); Class 2, 40–50 feet (12.2–15.2 m); and a Corinthian class.

Results:

The ''BOC Challenge'' 1994–95

The course was again changed for this edition, although it was still divided into four legs: Charleston, South Carolina — Cape Town — Sydney — Punta del Este — Charleston. Two classes of boat were entered: Class 1, 50–60 feet (15.2–18.3 m); and Class 2, 40–50 feet (12.2–15.2 m).

Results:

The ''Around Alone'', 1998

The course was again changed for this edition, although it was still divided into four legs: Charleston, South Carolina — Cape Town — Auckland — Punta del Este — Charleston. Two classes of boat were entered: Class 1, 50–60 feet (15.2–18.3 m); and Class 2, 40–50 feet (12.2–15.2 m).

In this race Isabelle Autissier was rescued by fellow competitor Giovanni Soldini when her boat ''PRB'' capsized approximately west of Cape Horn.

The results:

Viktor Yazykov is noted for performing surgery alone, at sea, on his elbow to drain a dangerous infection after injuring his elbow during the race. He emailed a doctor who provided instructions for his treatment

The ''Around Alone'', 2002

The course was again changed for this edition, this time spanning five legs: Newport, Rhode Island/New York — Brixham, Devon — Cape Town — Tauranga — Salvador, Brazil — Newport. Although the race technically started and ended in Newport, it was preceded by a "prologue race", in which the boats with crews of up to five raced to New York, to take part in ''Sail for America'', a major sailing event marking the first anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks. The main ''Around Alone'' event started from New York, and finished back in Newport.

Three classes of boat were entered: Class 1, IMOCA Open 60; Class 2, IMOCA Open 50; and Class 3, IMOCA Open 40.

Results:

The ''Velux 5 Oceans'' 2006–07

The 2006 edition covered a route of  nautical miles ( km). The race started in Bilbao (Spain), on October 22, 2006, and finished there. There were only two stops, in Fremantle (Australia) and Norfolk (USA).

The race was open to monohull yachts conforming to the Open 50 and Open 60 class criteria. The Open classes are unrestricted in certain aspects but a box rule governs parameters such as overall length, draught, appendages and stability, as well as numerous other safety features.

The race took place in stages, with the skippers having the chance to rest and refit at each stop-over point. Different staging points have been used over the years; the races prior to the 1998 event were run in four legs, and the 1998 event in five legs. The 2006 edition had the longest stages of any edition to date, with just three legs:''Race Route''
from the official web site

The total length for the 2006 edition was 30,140 nautical miles (55,820 km).

The ''Velux 5 Oceans'' 2010–11

The 2010 edition of the race started in La Rochelle (France), on October 17, 2010, and finished in the same port. Stopovers were Cape Town (South Africa), Wellington (New Zealand), Punta del Este (Uruguay), and Charleston, South Carolina (USA). The sailboats were all in the "Eco 60" class (Open 60 yachts built before 1 January 2003).

See also

*Vendée Globe
*Barcelona World Race
*Route du Rhum
*Volvo Ocean Race

Notes

{{Offshore sailing races

Recurring sporting events established in 1982
Round-the-world sailing competitions
Single-handed crew sailing competitions
IMOCA 60 class sailing competitions