Velux Group, world leading producer of roof windows and skylights, have signed up as official title sponsor of the 5 Oceans solo round-the-world yacht race – formerly the Around Alone.

The event, open to IMOCA Open 60s and Open 50s, will now be known as the Velux 5 Oceans Race and will start from Bilbao, Spain on 22 October 2006. From here the racing will follow a Grand Prix format taking fleet to Fremantle, Western Australia and then onto Florida USA, before a final transatlantic sprint back to Bilbao in Spring 2007.

According to Clipper Ventures, the organisers, the partnership with the Danish company Velux will enable the event to establish its position as the world’s premier singlehanded round the world yacht race and enable more skippers to take part. The longest race for any individual in any sport, the Velux 5 Oceans will see the sailors cover over 30,000 miles circumnavigating the world via the five great Capes. The race has consistently fielded the largest international fleet of all single-handed
races and Clipper Ventures is confident that next year’s race will feature the most countries to ever compete in a singlehanded race.

The sponsorship announcement means the competitors will immediately benefit with a 50 per cent refund of their entry fees on completion of the race. Other benefits for the skippers include: Free accommodation for themselves and up to four shore crew in Bilbao and Fremantle, free berthing, on-site marina facilities at each stopover. The race organisers are also working on enhancing the benefits package for each competitor to include subsidised freight and onboard communications.

The provisional entry list so far includes:

Open 60 Class

Alex Thomson, Hugo Boss, GBR

Brian Petersen, NZL

Derek Hatfield, Spirit of Canada, CAN

John Dennis, CAN

Kojiro Shiraishi, JAP

Michael Pierce, USA

Tim Troy, Margaret Anna, USA

Unai Basurko, ESP

Walter Antunes, Galileo, BRA

Open 50 Class

André Homem de Mello, BRA

Jacques Bouchacourt, Okauti, FRA

Joe Harris, Gryphon Solo, USA

Kip Stone, Artforms, USA

Mark Taylor, GBR