US entrant for Velux 5 Oceans

Tim Troy acquires French Open 60 for solo round the world race

American Tim Troy of Crownsville, Maryland today announced his entry in the Velux 5 Oceans singlehanded round the world yacht race.

Troy will line up at the start of this historical round the world yacht race in Bilbao (Spain) on 22 October, 2006 to compete against an international field that features top names in single-handed ocean racing such as current FICO World Champion Mike Golding, 2002 champion Bernard Stamm, Conrad Humphreys, Derek Hatfield and Alex Thomson. Tim will lead the American challenge in his new boat, a French designed Open 60 that may yet prove to be the surprise contender in what already looks to be a very competitive fleet.



Tim, the 46-year old Managing Director of Delmarva Company and Pan Florida Land Development, is a seasoned ocean sailor and has pulled out the stops in his plans to circumnavigate the globe alone. Speaking from the Miami Boat Show, Troy said: “Sailing around the world in the VELUX 5 Oceans has been a life-long ambition and I am definitely up for the challenge. Having secured a top class boat to enter the race, I believe I now have a fantastic platform for a title sponsor to join my campaign. However, with or without commercial sponsorship, I will be on the starting line to fly the flag for the USA and I believe that I can win this international event.” With a title sponsor, Tim believes he could be the first American to win in the Open 60 class.

Troy is a two-time winner of the Bermuda 1-2 race and is in top physical shape with more than 100,000 nautical miles under his keel. He strongly believes he is up to the challenge. He recently purchased the Nivelt-designed Open 60 once upon a time known as Petit Navire and fitted with both a canting keel and a canting rig. The boat was subsequently campaigned by Frenchman Loic Pochet with a more conventional rig in the 2002 Route du Rhum as La Rage de Vivre.

During the transatlantic crossing from France to the United States, the boat consistently exceeded 20 knots and Troy believes she is capable of much more.

For more details about Tim Troy's campaign visit www.sailamericaone.org .