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Brad Van Liew Claims Victory In Velux 5 Oceans Sprint Two
Brad greets his children, Wyatt and Tate. Photos by Ainhoa Sanchez, w-w-i.com. Click on images to enlarge.
American solo ocean racer Brad Van Liew today made it two wins from two ocean sprints as he sailed into Wellington, New Zealand, to claim victory in second sprint of the Velux 5 Oceans solo round the world yacht race. For the 42-year-old from Charleston, South Carolina, it brought to an end a gruelling month-long slog through the Southern Ocean from Cape Town in South Africa alone on his Eco 60 yacht Le Pingouin.
During the leg, the second of five that make up the Velux 5 Oceans, Brad sailed 7,682 nautical miles in 30 days, nine hours and 49 minutes at an average speed of 10.53 knots. His win earns him the maximum 12 points and places him firmly at the top of the Velux 5 Oceans leaderboard after two ocean sprints.
With 40-knot winds whipping through Wellington Harbour Brad blasted across the finish line on Le Pingouin at 7.49am local time (6.49pm UTC) as the sun rose over the city. Cheers went up from the waiting crowds as, with the help of his shore crew, Brad docked alongside Queens Wharf in the heart of the city at around 10am. First in line to welcome the victorious skipper were his wife Meaghan and children Tate, 8, and Wyatt, 6.
Ocean sprint two has seen some of the closest racing in the Velux 5 Oceans so far with positions changing frequently as the fleet battled through the huge winds and mountainous seas that characterise the bleak Southern Ocean leg. After opting to sail up the east coast of New Zealand, Polish skipper Zbigniew 'Gutek' Gutkowski is due to arrive in Wellington tomorrow followed closely by Canadian ocean racer Derek Hatfield who has taken a westerly route through the Tasman Sea similar to the one taken by Brad.
* Polish solo sailor Zbigniew Gutkowski has taken second place in ocean sprint two of the Velux 5 Oceans solo round the world race. The 36-year-old skipper from Gdansk crossed the finish line in Wellington, New Zealand, on his Eco yacht Operon Racing at 6.27am local time (5.27pm UTC).
Gutkowski, known as Gutek, arrived less than 24 hours behind leg winner Brad Van Liew. The second of five ocean sprints from Cape Town in South Africa to Wellington took Gutek 31 days, eight hours and 27 minutes to complete.
www.velux5oceans.com
American solo ocean racer Brad Van Liew today made it two wins from two ocean sprints as he sailed into Wellington, New Zealand, to claim victory in second sprint of the Velux 5 Oceans solo round the world yacht race. For the 42-year-old from Charleston, South Carolina, it brought to an end a gruelling month-long slog through the Southern Ocean from Cape Town in South Africa alone on his Eco 60 yacht Le Pingouin.
During the leg, the second of five that make up the Velux 5 Oceans, Brad sailed 7,682 nautical miles in 30 days, nine hours and 49 minutes at an average speed of 10.53 knots. His win earns him the maximum 12 points and places him firmly at the top of the Velux 5 Oceans leaderboard after two ocean sprints.
With 40-knot winds whipping through Wellington Harbour Brad blasted across the finish line on Le Pingouin at 7.49am local time (6.49pm UTC) as the sun rose over the city. Cheers went up from the waiting crowds as, with the help of his shore crew, Brad docked alongside Queens Wharf in the heart of the city at around 10am. First in line to welcome the victorious skipper were his wife Meaghan and children Tate, 8, and Wyatt, 6.
Ocean sprint two has seen some of the closest racing in the Velux 5 Oceans so far with positions changing frequently as the fleet battled through the huge winds and mountainous seas that characterise the bleak Southern Ocean leg. After opting to sail up the east coast of New Zealand, Polish skipper Zbigniew 'Gutek' Gutkowski is due to arrive in Wellington tomorrow followed closely by Canadian ocean racer Derek Hatfield who has taken a westerly route through the Tasman Sea similar to the one taken by Brad.
* Polish solo sailor Zbigniew Gutkowski has taken second place in ocean sprint two of the Velux 5 Oceans solo round the world race. The 36-year-old skipper from Gdansk crossed the finish line in Wellington, New Zealand, on his Eco yacht Operon Racing at 6.27am local time (5.27pm UTC).
Gutkowski, known as Gutek, arrived less than 24 hours behind leg winner Brad Van Liew. The second of five ocean sprints from Cape Town in South Africa to Wellington took Gutek 31 days, eight hours and 27 minutes to complete.
www.velux5oceans.com
