An aerial view of Le Vieux-Port de La Rochelle and the Race Village. Image copyright onEdition.
Atlantique Stade Rochelais player Franck Jacob impressed the crowd in the VELUX marquee when he beat all the VELUX 5 OCEANS Skippers in the a head to head Winch Grinding challenge, before the start of the race on Sunday at 4pm.
Atlantique Stade Rochelais player Franck Jacob at the grinder. Image copyright Ainhoa Sanchez/onEdition.
VELUX 5 OCEANS Skippers signed the Eco Charter today, showing their commitment to environmentally friendly sailing, at the City Council, l'Hotel de Ville.
VELUX 5 OCEANS Skippers sign the Eco Charter. Image copyright Ainhoa Sanchez/onEdition.
Derek Hatfield is Canada's most experienced offshore solo yachtsman with a podium finish in 2003 in the VELUX 5 Oceans (formerly called Around Alone), he also competed in the 2008 Vendee Globe and has over 90,000 miles of offshore experience. Derek, from Aurora, Ontario, Canada, a former Canadian Mounted Policeman, he has plastered the hull of his Eco 60 yacht Spirit of Canada, with the names of every single person who helped him in his campaign.
Derek Hatfield's yacht, Spirit of Canada. Image copyright onEdition.
The five skippers competing are:
Brad van Liew (USA) Le Pingouin
Christophe Bullens (Belgium) Five Oceans of Smiles
Derek Hatfield (Canada) Active House
Christopher Stanmore-Major (Britain) Spartan
Zbigniew Gutkowski, aka Gutek (Poland) Operon Racing
Velux5Oceans
