Another entry for the Velux 5 Oceans

Belgium sailor Christophe Bullens signs up

Offshore racer Christophe Bullens has announced his entry in the Velux 5 Oceans 2010-11. The Belgian skipper, an experienced yachtsman who sails over 10,000 miles per year, will attempt his first solo circumnavigation of the planet in the new Eco 60 Class of this classic solo round the world race with stops.

Bullens, 48, has been racing since 1979. Over the course of his career, he has won the North Sea Race six times, as well as the Belgian Championship (IOR Class 13m). Since 2000, he has been skippering Kriter V (Michel Malinovsky's 21m monohull that Mike Birch famously pipped to the post in the first Route du Rhum back in 1978), Kriter VIII (a 23 metre monohull) and Pen Duick III, Eric Tabarly’s RORC racer. 2008 saw Bullens claim first place in the Transat Quebec-St. Malo in the IMOCA class while in 2009 he competed against some of the top Open 60 skippers in the Rolex Fastnet Race.

Speaking from Belgium, Bullens commented, “It has been my objective for a number of years to complete a solo race around the world and the Velux 5 Oceans 2010-11 is the perfect platform. It is a classic in the offshore racing calendar, and with the Eco 60 Class and the skipper support packages offered by Velux and Clipper Ventures, it make this a very accessible and attractive prospect. My training boat is safe and reliable, but I intend to purchase a newer model yacht for the Eco 60 Class.”

David Adams, Race Director of the Velux 5 Oceans, commented, “We welcome Christophe's entry into the Velux 5 Oceans. He has many ocean miles behind him and his experience will add to the international skippers assembling for this great race.”

Christophe Bullens will race in support of the Smiles charity which supports children who are HIV positive. Based at the Saint-Pieter hospital in Brussels, Smiles seeks to give HIV positive children the possibility to be born, grow up and live a normal childhood. They learn to deal with the required daily medication, emotional challenges and psychological problems surrounding their condition, supported by social care for the patients and their families. Bullens’s project will be an educational and creative project in which the children are closely involved.