BRAD VAN LIEW LOOKS AHEAD TO THE HORN AS SPRINT THREE SUMMIT APPROACHES

Le Pingouin - credit Ainhoa Sanchez/ VELUX 5 OCEANS

Current race leader aware the hardest part is yet to come

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.

“The big news is that later today I will download weather information that will take me up to Cape Horn,” Brad said this morning. “Then I will truly be looking ahead to Cape Horn rather than anything that’s happening behind me. I’m pretty excited about that. Hopefully we will get a window of opportunity that will allow us to get round safely. It’s all about looking forward right now.”

Notorious for being a place of huge seas, howling winds and shipwrecks, Cape Horn has struck fear into sailors for centuries. Millions of tonnes of water are forced through a 400-mile wide gap between South America and Antarctica with often brutal consequences. Meticulous planning is required for a safe passage, as well as a little bit of luck.

“From now on I’ll start planning tactically and mentally for the rounding,” said Brad, who has rounded Cape Horn twice previously and knows what awaits. “I think about rounding Cape Horn every single day. It’s all about that window of opportunity. It’s the pinnacle of this leg. The closer you get to it the more you think about it, but it’s been there in my mind all along. There’s no way to shut it off.”

At the 0600 UTC position report Brad had a lead of more than 125 nautical miles over his race rivals but he’s taking nothing for granted. “I’m not a weather system ahead of the other guys so my lead is a bit fake,” he added. “It would be hard to pass me but it would be easy for them to catch right up to me. I’m just trying to keep as much sail up as I can. I think this leg is going to be really close, we’re in a proper boat race here.”

Ocean sprint three 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: 3337.3/ 0/ 282.6/11.8

Zbigniew Gutkowski, Operon Racing: 3466.2/128.9/265.3/11.1

Derek Hatfield, Active House: 3504.1/166.8/ 254.1/10.6

Chris Stanmore-Major, Spartan: 3692.7/ 355.4/ 227.1 / 9.5

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  

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