Belgian solo sailor Christophe Bullens has been left with no choice but to retire from the Velux 5 Oceans following a string of technical problems onboard his yacht. After a catalogue of breakages and equipment failures the final straw came just an hour after setting sail from Cape Town for the third time when the mast track onboard Five Oceans of Smiles too ripped out for the second time.

Christophe’s return to Cape Town means that he will not be able to complete the second ocean sprint of the solo round the world yacht race before it restarts again from Wellington, New Zealand, on February 6. With the second leg taking the fleet through the notorious Southern Ocean, fears about the safety of Five Oceans of Smiles too further added to Christophe’s decision to pull out of the race. It is a bitter disappointment for the 49-year-old who has overcome many problems and shown much determination since the Velux 5 Oceans started in La Rochelle, France, in October.

“All the problems encountered have finally beaten me and have prevented me from continuing,” Christophe explained. “Unfortunately I have no other choice than to withdraw from the race. It is not reasonable, and even dangerous, to go on. At a certain moment one must be realistic instead of being proud and stubborn. We don’t do this race to prove ourselves to others but it is a challenge with oneself and I can’t commit the people who supported me until now on a path beyond reason.”

David Adams, Velux 5 Oceans race director, said: “Christophe has shown an amazing amount of tenacity chasing his dream to compete in the Velux 5 Oceans. He is a fantastic role model for the sport and embodies everything the race stands for. It is sad to see Christophe withdraw from racing but his decision is a sensible one given the conditions he will face in the Southern Ocean and beyond. We wish Christophe the best of luck for the future and hope to see him on the start line of the Velux 5 Oceans in 2014.”

Timeline of events leading to withdrawal:

5 October 2010: Christophe’s original Eco 60 Five Oceans of Smiles is dismasted en route to La Rochelle. He and his team start the search for another yacht to race in
13 October 2010: Four days before the race start Christophe acquires Artech from French sailor Jean-Baptiste Dejeanty
17 October 2010: Christophe starts the VELUX 5 OCEANS with the rest of the fleet before returning to La Rochelle after a 48-hour qualification passage
24 October 2010: After making preparations to his new boat, Christophe sets sail from La Rochelle a week behind the rest of the fleet
1 November 2010: Christophe forced to stop in Gran Canaria for 48 hours after strong winds split his mainsail and broke several battens
10 November 2010: Christophe diverts to the Cape Verde Islands to seek medical attention after developing a fever
25 November 2010: Around a tonne of water floods into Five Oceans of Smiles
28 November 2010: Christophe hits a whale
6 December 2010: After 49 days at sea, Christophe arrives in Cape Town with just five days until ocean sprint two starts
16 December 2010: Ocean sprint two starts four days later than scheduled due to strong off Cape Town
17 December 2010: Christophe returns to Cape Town after the electronics on his yacht failed and rudder problems
20 December 2010: After an amazing effort by a team of volunteers on the dock in Cape Town Christophe restarts ocean sprint two
22 December 2010: Problems with the mast track on Five Oceans of Smiles too force Christophe to return to Cape Town
1 January 2011: Christophe sets sail from Cape Town again but is forced to return after the mast track breaks again
3 January 2011: Christophe withdraws from the VELUX 5 OCEANS

Christophe concluded: “I have been racing a lot in my life and this is the first time I have seen so much mutual help, so much brotherhood between the competitors, their families, the technical teams, organisation and supporters. The Eco 60 is a fantastic class. It is the only one in the world where in a solo race I have had so many crew.”

For more, visit www.velux5oceans.com