After seven years of campaigning and racing in the Around Alone circuit, American Brad Van Liew has announced plans to retire from solo racing in the Southern Ocean. Logging nearly 100,000 miles on the water and more than 327 days alone at sea since setting his sights on the Around Alone race, Van Liew has achieved his goal of victory. The 2002 Around Alone class II champion has satisfied all his goals in this arena of the sport. He now wishes to employ the valuable lessons learned offshore and onshore with the launch of Van Liew Ventures, a new full service marketing company.

Van Liew said: “Van Liew Ventures is an exciting new project that will allow me to blend my knowledge of the competitive sports world with my wife Meaghan’s expertise in event sponsorship and PR. I’d like to think I’m leaving solo ocean racing in a Michael Jordan-fashion – at the top of my game. I set out to win my class of the Around Alone onboard Tommy Hilfiger Freedom America and I did that. Now Meaghan and I will use our collective experience to help others achieve their dreams.”

Van Liew Ventures and subsidiary Van Liew Communications will focus on assisting companies, race organizers and teams with a variety of tasks – including product development and marketing, sponsorship, public relations, race management, training, and non-profit fundraising. The company at inception can already boast a growing client list that reflects the breadth of the services they provide and confidence they can deliver. The intention is to accept only a small group of clients at any one time in order to provide a personal hands-on approach.