VELUX 5 OCEANS 2010/2011

- Start 17. Oktober 2010
http://www.velux5oceans.com/ - Übersicht

07.01.2011
A STARK WARNING TO THE WORLD FROM THE VELUX 5 OCEANS SKIPPERS

Sombre environmental reflections on sailing through the world’s oceans

The planet has seen some drastic changes within its eco systems in the past few decades. From rising sea levels to extremes in seasonal weather patterns, and from diminishing wildlife to the movement of ocean currents, it is believed that climate change is exacting its influence on the world. For the experienced skippers of the VELUX 5 OCEANS these changes have been observed at first hand and their commentary is alarming.

Credit onEdition

In the past 12 years Derek Hatfield and Brad Van Liew have racked up four round the world voyages between them, with the current edition of the VELUX 5 OCEANS adding two more to their tally. Their commitment to the sport means they have spent years of their lives dedicated to the sea and have seen the changes brought by global warming close-up. Derek and Brad are no scientists but instead can offer unique personal observations on the environment they love and live for – and they have a grave warning.

“I’m not a scientist but I know that things are changing - I see it in the oceans,” said Canadian sailor Derek, a former mounted policeman who took up ocean racing in the early 1990s. “Even crossing the Atlantic from Canada to France for the start of the VELUX 5 OCEANS I didn’t see one dolphin or one whale. The ocean is dying. I made my first transatlantic crossing in 1993 and I would see dozens of dolphins, and maybe two whales every day. Now you can cross the ocean and there’s hardly any life there, it’s just a body of water. It’s unbelievable how it has changed in just a few years.

As well as a distinct lack of once-abundant wildlife, another major change for Brad can be found in the temperature of the water.
“I am sailing in nine degree Celsius water in a place that should have a far cooler water temperature,” said the American, now on his third round the world race. “I am sailing deliberately further north than ever before because the Antarctic convergence (ice zone) is hundreds of miles further north than when I first sailed the Southern Ocean in 1998. The birds are far less in numbers than I have ever experienced, and the whales - well, we all know that story.”
“Around 70 per cent of the planet is covered in water,” Brad added. “The life and delicate balance that water provides is the brine from which all known life came. Can you imagine if that balance is upset? Water can take the life away just as easily, and in a much shorter time, than it was given. The sun and water are the two things that make every weather anomaly occur. We better start taking care of our oceans or they aren't going to be here to take care of us.”

Before leaving La Rochelle, all the skippers of the VELUX 5 OCEANS signed an Eco Charter, whereby they committed to be ambassadors of the oceans, respecting the essential element of water which supports life and this very race. Water is the communications theme for Ocean Sprint 2 under the banner of TAKING ON THE ELEMENTS, commitment by all the race stakeholders to understand and improve their impact on the world. The skippers bring a unique insight to a remote but crucial part of the world and the aim is to inform, educate and inspire race followers to make a difference in respecting the planet’s delicate environment back on land.

Fellow VELUX 5 OCEANS skipper Zbigniew Gutkowski was moved to write about the unique relationship between man and water in his blog. You can read it here http://www.velux5oceans.com/latest-news/guteks-blog-water-and-sailing-life-at-the-ocean-leg-2/
To learn more about how the VELUX 5 OCEANS stakeholders support sustainability go to http://www.velux5oceans.com/static/our-commitment-to-promoting-sustainable-development/

Ocean sprint two positions at 06h00 UTC:
Skipper / distance to finish (nm) / distance to leader (nm) / distance covered in last 24 hours (nm) / average speed in last 24 hours (kts)
Brad Van Liew, Le Pingouin: 1095.2/ 0 / 317.7 / 13.2 Derek Hatfield, Active House: 2292.7/ 387.5 / 257.5/ 10.7 Zbigniew Gutkowski, Operon Racing: 2293.7/ 388.5/ 274.5/ 11.4 Chris Stanmore-Major, Spartan: 2980.5/ 1075.3/ 278.8 / 11.6

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-ENDS- MEDIA NOTES TO EDITORS Rights-free race images, video and audio available to download in high-resolution: www.w-w-i.com/velux_5_oceans_2010_race/ For broadcast-standard video please visit www.thenewsmarket.com/Velux If you are a first-time user, please take a moment to register. In case you have any questions, please email journalisthelp@thenewsmarket.com For interview requests and further information on the VELUX 5 OCEANS, please contact Sarah Hames, Race Press Officer: T: + 44 7813 009 783 E: shames@velux5oceans.com W: www.velux5oceans.com NOTES TO EDITORS VELUX 5 OCEANS – The Ultimate Solo Challenge The VELUX 5 OCEANS is the Ultimate Solo Challenge, the ultimate human endeavour. More than 500 people have been into space – less than 180 have sailed round the world solo. The VELUX 5 OCEANS is a series of five high-pressure ocean sprints within a marathon 30,000-nautical mile circumnavigation. The race, run every four years since 1982, has a rich heritage which has given rise to some of the world's best sailors. The VELUX 5 OCEANS is not only the longest round the world yacht race but at nearly 30 years old is also the longest running. Always at the forefront of ocean racing innovation, the 2010/11 VELUX 5 OCEANS will see the premiere of the Eco 60 class of yachts, pushing a message of sustainability, accessibility and affordability. www.velux5oceans.com About the VELUX Group The VELUX Group holds the title sponsorship of VELUX 5 OCEANS for the second time. The spirit, values and nature of the race and its skippers are similar to those of the VELUX Group. As a manufacturer of roof windows, the VELUX Group employs creativity and an innovative approach to the development of new products and business strategies. In its mission to create better living environments with daylight and fresh air through the roof the Group has earned the reputation of being one of the strongest brands in the global building materials sector. The VELUX Group has manufacturing companies in 11 countries and sales companies in just under 40 countries, it has about 10,000 employees and is owned by VKR Holding A/S, a limited company wholly owned by foundations and family. www.velux.com Clipper Ventures Plc This year marks 41 years since Sir Robin Knox-Johnston's historic solo and non-stop circumnavigation in 1969. Now, as Chairman of Clipper Ventures PLC, he is at the forefront of promoting round the world yacht racing. Clipper Ventures, the marine sports company founded in 1995, is focused on developing and promoting major events capable of attracting significant participation, income, media coverage and associated sponsorship revenue. Knox-Johnston founded Clipper Ventures on the belief that sailing should be made available to everyone and therefore created the Clipper Round the World Race, with 2,000 people having now completed one of the seven races to date. www.clipper-ventures.com Race Partners and Suppliers Transportation Partner, Maersk Line: www.maerskline.com Start/Finish Port, La Rochelle (France): www.ville-larochelle.fr / www.agglo-larochelle.fr Host Ports: Cape Town, Wellington, Punta del Este, Charleston Technical Clothing Supplier: www.henrilloyd.com Navigation/Routing Supplier: www.maxsea.com Research Partner, Portsmouth University: www.port.ac.uk Sustainability Partner, Sailors for the Sea: www.sailorsforthesea.org Marine Forecast Supplier: http://forecast.predictwind.com/tracking/ Official Timekeeper: www.nauticawatches.com Electronic Chart Supplier: www.jeppesen.com/lightmarine www.velux5oceans.com __________ Hinweis von ESET Smart Security, Signaturdatenbank-Version 5765 (20110106) __________ E-Mail wurde geprüft mit ESET Smart Security. http://www.eset.com