Velux 5 Oceans appoints Race Director

Former competitor to return to run the new show

Clipper Ventures today announced the appointment of David Adams as the official Race Director for the Velux 5 Oceans, the single-handed round the world yacht race with stops formerly known as Around Alone and the BOC Challenge. This race sets off from Bilbao, Spain in October 2006, and visits Australia and the United States.

Australian yachtsman David Adams is no stranger to round the world races and the Velux 5 Oceans. 51, Adams qualified as a captain in the merchant navy before becoming a professional yachtsman. He has logged more than 200,000 miles competing in some of the world’s great ocean races. He competed twice in the BOC Challenge including in 1994/5, when he won Class 2 aboard True Blue when he slashed 10 days off the record, narrowly beating Giovanni Soldini. He was awarded Australian Yachtsman of the Year in 1995-96.

Adams also has previous in race management. In 2000-2001 he was based in Paris as co-Race Director (with Denis Horeau) of The Race, a non-stop round the world race in giant catamarans. In 2004-05 David was Southern Ocean safety consultant for the Vendée Globe non-stop solo round the world race, which was won by Frenchman Vincent Riou.

Commenting on the appointment, Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, Chairman of Clipper Ventures PLC, said “We are delighted to be able to announce the appointment of David as race director for the Velux 5 Oceans. David was our number one target for this important position, given his experience not only with the race in the past, but his reputation on the back of his involvement in the Race and the Vendee Globe. In our opinion, David is the perfect choice to take the Velux 5 Oceans into the next exciting stage in the race’s prestigious history and deliver a world class event.”

David, who currently lives in Sydney, added, “I am pleased to be able to accept this honour from Sir Robin. This event and its competitors have been close to my heart since the first BOC Challenge in 1982 and I look forward to the challenge that the Velux 5 Oceans presents as the race is re-invented for the future.” David will join the Velux 5 Oceans team permanently as of January 2006.