Sir Robin sets sail

RKJ heads for New York on Velux 5 Oceans qualifier

Sir Robin Knox-Johnston set off for New York today in his Open 60 Grey Power. The trans-Atlantic crossing is part of Robin’s preparations for the Velux 5 Oceans, the round the world, single-handed yacht race which begins in October 2006 in Bilbao, Spain.

Sir Robin, who cast off this morning from Clipper Ventures head quarters in Gosport, UK, will sail to New York with a crew of three and then sail solo on the return crossing into Plymouth. In 1982 when he was Race Director of the then BOC Challenge, Sir Robin set down the rule that every competitor who sails in the race must complete a trans-oceanic voyage of at least 2,000 miles in order to qualify. The trans-Atlantic crossing will cover 2,925 miles and take around 12 days to complete.

Sir Robin acquired the former Fila Open 60, previously campaigned by Giovanni Soldini in May this year and has since sailed her from Lorient to Gosport and again in the Round the Island Race earlier this month when he finished in second place in the Open 60 class, behind fellow Velux 5 Oceans competitor, Mike Golding in Ecover.

Sir Robin said: “Having created this rule for the first race I can hardly ask for exemption. The leg from New York back to Plymouth will give me the opportunity to get to know the boat which is a fundamental necessity for a race like the Velux 5 Oceans. I am very pleased with what I have learned about her so far. She has great potential and it is up to me to make the most of that potential. The conditions look favorable for the crossing and I’m hoping to make it back in good time although I won’t be going flat out just yet. This is more about getting me familiar with the boat.”

Sir Robin wrote his name in the sailing hall of fame in 1969 when he was the only person to finish the legendary Sunday Times Golden Globe on board his yacht Suhaili. Back then, his record-breaking circumnavigation took a monumental 313 days. During this epic voyage, Sir Robin lived off rain water caught in a bucket and The Sunday Times even prepared his obituary, believing he had been lost at sea.

For the silver jubilee year of the Velux 5 Oceans, the oldest solo round the world yacht race, Sir Robin will be hoping to complete the 30,000 mile course in around 112 days taking 200 days off his 1969 record.