Regata Velux 5 oceans.

2006

To sail alone

The form of inscription of the Velux 5 Oceans demands that the landlords sign with their name at the end of a document that includes the phrase: “I include/understand that navigation alone in competition can be something dangerous”. On the occasion of the possible “incidents” that can undergo the participants of this Regata Returned to the World throughout more than 30,000 miles, David Adams, sport director of the Regata, maintained yesterday Tuesday a press conference with the eight family and ground equipments of Skippers.

The risks that the eight participants throughout more confront than 30,000 miles extend the normal limits and exceed the denominated “acceptable risk”, something that to the equipment of the landlords as well as their relatives very well as much know. David Adams, winner of the VOICE Challenge in 1995 in Class 2, explained in the meeting the safety procedures to them that entail this epic test. All of them are conscious of the dangers of this regata and according to Adams they have reacted “very favorably because they know that we are not going to them to lose the track. They understand that it is the return to the world and that this implies danger. They know the risks and they are sure that we are going to do everything what we pruned and more in case of accident to go as rapidly as possible in its rescue.”

In case of rescue
When the impressive and powerful images of three boats overturned in the Austral Ocean astonished to the world during the Vendée Globe of 1997, test alone and without scales, seemed clear that the potential irrigations of navigation alone were something untenable. David Adams and their equipment is accumulated great experience not only in this competition but in other previous ones. According to the Australian sailor, “the communications have evolved enormously and now, evidently it is much more easy to locate to the navigators”.

In case of rescue, each country has a different strategy. For example, in Australia they have Horizon airplanes, that they count on an autonomy of 1,000 miles (1852 kilometers). Also one is going away to count on high tech instruments like a system of pursuit by satellite (Inmarsat C.), a radar equipment Active echo or a telephone via connected satellite the 24 hours with medical experts and instruments that transmit the cardiac frequency of the landlord to a earth analyst. But, as Adams says, in case of accident, “forward edge of security is going to be the other participants”. Thus, in the Around Alone of 1998 the famous Italian navigator Giovanni Soldini restrained his boat to rescue to Isabelle Autissier, one of his competitors.

On the other hand, when skippers naveguen by the most remote zones of the Austral Ocean they are not going to be single. Luckyly, in this occasion one is going away to count on the support of the British Real Navy and its ice-breaker HMS Endurance at the moment that the navigators of the 5 Velux Oceans happen through this zone, where the more frightful meteorological conditionses are expected and possible encounter with icebergs. Between the 130 crew of the boat of the British Navy are specialistic oceanographic experts and in water and ice that will support their to the organizers of this test with their knowledge, anticipating potential meteorological difficulties and explaining because of their development.

A British military ship will alert of storms and icebergs in the Arctic ocean

The HMS Endurance, a unique boat in their class, that spends nine months to the year in waters of the Antarctic, is a “ice patrol” with an expert crew in oceanography and meteorology of these seas

The VELUX 5 OCEANS has announced today their association with the ship British military icebreaker of the Patrol of the Ice, HMS Endurance. One is a unique ship, with a unique paper, that operates in surroundings of most singular; he is destined during nine months of the year in the regions of the South Pole, surrounded in the cold and the ice of the austral summer of Antarctica, where it carries out operational tasks for diverse agencies and international institutions. Captain Nick Lambert and all their crew is expert in oceanography, meteorology, and climatology of the dangerous oceans of the south.

Speaking from ship HMS Endurance, Captain Nick Lambert, who has been 29 years in Navy, it commented “We are very contentments of being able to work with the VELUX 5 OCEANS. During many years this boat has provided information and support to organizations like the British Sounding Antarctica, the British Cabinet of Hydrography and the Real Society of Meteorology.”

“Our function in the Real Navy gets passionate to Us, that is a unique force in the world, and our contribution to the production and scientific research anywhere in the world. Very we are animated before the possibility of helping mass media to follow the brave participants of the VELUX the 5 OCEANS in its fight against the elements of the South Ocean.”

HMS Endurance, that will leave Portsmouth next the 25 of September made the Antarctic, will offer data and advice to the organizers and followers of the VELUX 5 OCEANS on meteorological cycles, icing-up and ecosystems in the zone to which he is destined. Captain Lambert and its crew will send new information to the Web site and the radio transmitters, besides images and video when it is possible. According to the situation of the sailboats and the operational needs of Navy, HMS Endurance will try to be with the participants in their trip by the South Ocean and thus to remove images from Open 60 according to they happen through the Cape Horn.

David Stubley, of Clipper Ventures, organizing company/signature of regata, added “Is a perfect association for the VELUX 5 OCEANS. The knowledge, information and benefits of HMS Endurance will give very many life to the South Ocean, and will help the public to include/understand the crude reality of the polar surroundings. It is an honor, and very we are thanked for to Captain Nick Lambert and Real British Navy by to have acceded to comprise of this great event.”

HMS Endurance has a platform in network with informative and educative aims in www.visitandlearn.co.uk, that includes more details on its routes and operations, with images, videos and newspapers on board written by the crew.

ABOUT HMS ENDURANCE
It is an icebreaker A1 class, whose function is to support the British Antarctic water interests. Also it participates in the British Antarctic Sounding in the accomplishment of scientific research programs. It reaches a terminal velocity of 15 knots and can cover long distances. Its prow icebreaker allows to lay a way him through an ice layer of 0.9m to a speed of 3 knots.

In addition ENDURANCE takes two Lynx helicopters on board for diverse uses, like supplying of campings, and the transport of scientists and British equipment of sounding.

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