News & Features | ISAF | World Sailing | Official Site : STAMM And SHIRAISHI Just Hours Away

News

30 April 2007, 02:46 pm

STAMM And SHIRAISHI Just Hours Away

VELUX 5 OCEANS 2006-2007

Bernard STAMM (SUI) and Kojiro SHIRAISHI (JPN) are expected to cross the finish line of the third and final leg of the VELUX 5 OCEANS at Bilbao, Spain in the next few hours. At 09:45 UTC, Swiss sailing STAMM onboard Cheminees Poujoulat was 69 miles away from the finish and a successful defence of his title.

Sailing at the average speed of 14 knots, STAMM should cross the finish line in the next three hours. Japanese skipper SHIRAISHI onboard Spirit of Yukoh was 83 miles away from the finish. Sailing at the average speed of 15 knots, he should cross the finish line in the next four hours.

After 11 days at sea since he left Norfolk, Virginia, USA, STAMM looks set to take first place of the final leg and be the overall winner of the VELUX 5 OCEANS for the second time in four years. But as he is only 12 miles away from STAMM, the challenge from SHIRAISHI is not yet over...

About The Race

The VELUX 5 OCEANS is the longest race for any individual in any sport. Over the first few days, the fleet will make their way along the northern coast of Spain to Cape Finistère where they will turn south towards the Southern Ocean. However, all of the skippers know that this race is a marathon and not a sprint. During the 30,000 miles sailed in the VELUX 5 OCEANS race, the yachts will encounter some of the most extreme sea and weather conditions on the planet.

For a complete list of all the news about the VELUX 5 OCEANS 2006-2007 CLICK HERE.