5-Oceans secure title sponsor

Great news for the singlehanded round the world race

Clipper Ventures plc today announced The Velux Group, the world’s leading producer of roof windows and skylights, as official title sponsor of the 5 Oceans solo round the world yacht race. The deal will see the race renamed as the Velux 5 Oceans.

The partnership with Velux will enable the event to establish its position as the world’s premier single-handed 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 this year will feature the most countries to ever compete in a single-handed race.

The Velux 5 Oceans, formerly the Around Alone, will be sailed in cutting edge Open 60 and Open 50 racing yachts. The race starts in Bilbao, Spain on 22 October 2006 and will follow a Grand Prix format taking the anticipated 20-strong fleet to Fremantle, Western Australia and then onto Florida, before a final transatlantic sprint back to Bilbao in spring 2007.

The Velux Group has seen steady growth across Europe and global markets. The company identified sailing as a target for their sports marketing and selected the 5 Oceans as a truly global sporting event which has many synergies with the Velux brand and company values.

Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, Chairman of Clipper Ventures Plc, said “We are absolutely delighted to welcome Velux aboard and believe that this partnership will prove to be a significant step to enhancing this gold standard yachting event. The Velux 5 Oceans is the toughest test of any individual in any sport and there is nothing that compares with it for the demands it makes on a person. ”

Jørgen Tang-Jensen, CEO of Velux A/S, said, “The 5 Oceans is the perfect match for our brand, values, strategies and markets. Today, we are a global group with companies in about 40 countries and as such we find a global event like this is a perfect match. Velux works with daylight in buildings and thus with the natural environment’s importance for our wellbeing. Our focus on daylight, fresh air and clear views harmonises perfectly with yachting. In addition, 5 Oceans is originated in continent where Velux is represented, namely Europe, the USA and Australia. The Velux 5 Oceans is an exhilarating yachting challenge with distinct features which unite it with Velux ambitions: Mastering the elements and having the commitment to push boundaries”.

The deal was brokered by WPP sports marketing agency Global Sportnet GmbH, Clipper’s exclusive marketing agent for the Velux 5 Oceans. Morgan Chenneour, CEO of Global Sportnet, added: “It is not often we get the opportunity to work with a rights holder with a vision for its event and a commitment to make the necessary investment to make it a reality. Whether it be world class television production, global PR, media monitoring and evaluation or Velux 5 Oceans broadband TV, it is all there. This is what the Velux 5 Oceans is all about as a global sporting event.”