Maxime Bono, Mayor of La Rochelle, was joined by solo sailing legend Sir Robin Knox Johnston, Chairman of the VELUX 5 OCEANS, and by Michel Langrand, President of VELUX France, to celebrate the opening of the VELUX House, whose message of sustainable living is shared by all stakeholders.

Sir Robin Knox Johnston said: “There are now less than 100 days to go until the start of the VELUX 5 OCEANS and things are really starting to get exciting. The opening of the VELUX House in La Rochelle marks the race’s commitment to sustainability and will be a fantastic centrepiece of our environmentally friendly race village.”

Located at the centre of La Rochelle’s maritime district on Esplanade Eric Tabarly in the Bassin des Chalutiers, the VELUX House will showcase to the public how it is possible to build carbon-neutral homes by using the abundance of passive thermal solar energy coming through the roof windows while also creating a healthy indoor climate.

The VELUX House will remain for one year in La Rochelle, serving as a point of information on the race for the visiting public and people of La Rochelle, updating them on news from the ocean sprints, skippers and stopovers. It will equally be used as a venue to showcase sustainability exhibitions and educational seminars on climate change, inviting personalities such as Jean-Louis Etienne and Catherine Chabaud to present their activities. Isabelle Autissier, confirmed as Godmother for the race in La Rochelle, sent a video message of support and will be invited to use the House to promote her various programmes at sea and with WWF.

M. Langrand, President of VELUX France, commented: “I am very happy to open the VELUX House that the people of La Rochelle will host in their port for an entire year. This CO2 neutral building is a new way of living within which, alongside its energy performance, interior comfort is delivered thanks to the maximum use of natural light and optimal ventilation.”

The VELUX House will form the centrepiece of the VELUX 5 OCEANS race village, overlooking the pontoons which will host the competing Eco 60s. The race village will be open to the public from October 9 and will carry the message of TAKING ON THE ELEMENTS, the race’s sustainability mission, supported by an exposition from race transport partner Maersk Line and other local eco exhibitors from the La Rochelle region. During the weekend of the race start, October 15 to 17, the International VELUX Award for Students of Architecture will be hosted in La Rochelle, centred round the theme of sustainable living, and the VELUX House will be a showpiece for the winners and 600 attending guests from around the world.

Members of the public can visit the VELUX House as of today however to see for themselves how eco-friendly architecture and design along with solar energy and 0% emissions can combine to create a sustainable home for the future. The VELUX House is full of fresh air and light thanks to VELUX’s strategically-placed roof and façade windows. Because of the large amount of natural light entering the building, the need to use electricity to run lighting is reduced. The VELUX House’s construction is such that its three modules can be combined to create solutions to suit differing needs for space and facilities. In industrialised countries 40% of the energy consumption is used in buildings – the VELUX House shines as an example of maximised energy efficiency, minimised emissions and visionary architecture.

Despite being placed at ground level while being used as a demonstration building, the VELUX House is actually designed to be mounted on top of multi-storey buildings to replace former closed roof constructions and revolutionise the roof landscape.

The VELUX House is a building experiment that demonstrates how a conscious combination of sustainable architecture, carefully selected components and the building’s surroundings can play a role in tackling some of the major climate and population challenges faced by urban areas all over the world.

The VELUX 5 OCEANS, run by Clipper Ventures PLC, starts from La Rochelle in France on October 17 and features five ocean sprints. After heading from La Rochelle to Cape Town, the race will then take in Wellington in New Zealand, Salvador in Brazil and Charleston in the US before returning back across the Atlantic to France.

10 June, 2010

This afternoon Derek Hatfield will sail into Lunenburg with the new ECO 60 Spirit of Canada. He will arrive with a crew of 3 as part of his first training session in preparation for his 3^rd single handed race around the world beginning in France later this year.

After 14 days of sailing from France to Lunenburg the crew and skipper can almost smell the coast and look forward to being on shore with the comforts of home rather than the sparse out-fittings of this ocean racing boat.

For updates on arrival visit us on Facebook by linking on the Facebook icon at www.spiritofcanada.net

Notes to Editor:

About Derek Hatfield and Spirit of Canada

Derek Hatfield was the 2003 Canadian Rolex Sailor of the Year and the 126th person in history to finish a single-handed race around the world. Derek is the first to ever fly the Canadian flag as a competitor in the grueling Vendee Globe single handed around the world race. The VELUX 5 OCEANS is the next challenge, he will compete in the Eco 60 class, a revolutionary fleet aimed at opening up ocean racing by making it more affordable as well as eco-friendly. The fleet makes it’s première in the 2010 VELUX 5 OCEANS and is for Open 60 yachts launched before 2003 and will be governed by a number of rules and regulations designed to limit costs and encourage positive environmental practices. Derek plans to be the first person in history to race around the world without the use of fossil fuels to operate the boat.

Key Partner

Spirit of Canada is still looking for a Key Partner to take advantage of this great marketing opportunity. The Key Partner will receive a return on investment of approx 25 million in EVA (equivalent advertising value). The cost of the Key Partnership is a small fraction of this amount. For more information on a Key Partnership or any other multi-faceted sponsorship opportunity with Spirit of Canada, please contact Spirit of Canada Ocean Challenges at 647.288.7342

For further information on Spirit of Canada, please contact Patianne Verburgh:
Office: +1.647.288.7342
Mobile: +1.902.529.2626
www.spiritofcanada.net
patianne@spiritofcanada.net

The crew and I are settling in nicely on day four of the transatlantic from Port La Foret to Lunenburg, NS. The SW wind that we are experiencing is helping us to make some good headway, the crew are very surprised as to how much of the sailing is upwind work. We have hit all the conditions in the last four days, big wind and waves, no wind, rain and like today; beautiful sunshine.

The boat is performing very well, it’s great to be back at sea. Though with 4 people aboard the space below is unbelievably small but we are getting along well. We can already see ways to lighten the boat and look forward to working on it.

It usually takes 3 or 4 days at sea to get used to the routine and movements and to get your appetite back, the crew and I are just about to have our first single pot meal: Tuna, noodles and corn.

Check out the new position plotter on the website, you can follow us during all the training sessions this summer at:

http://spiritofcanada.net/wordpress2/spirit-of-canada-position-plotter/

Take care,

Derek

FYI Radio update tomorrow on CBC’s “Information Morning” here in Nova Scotia.

Thanks to GMN for making this update possible.

If you would like to put your name on the boat or to go offshore training with Derek this summer let us know at info@spiritofcanada.net

Today at17.00hr GMT the new ECO 60 Spirit of Canada sailed out of from Port La Foret, France and into the beginning of the first training session that will take the crew from France to Nova Scotia. Under sunny skies and 15 knots of breeze from the North they began their 2489nm sail. “The boat is performing well and the crew are getting adjusted to being at sea, the weather for the next few days is good to see us make some miles to the west and out of the Bay of Biscay, it’s great to be back at sea” says skipper Derek Hatfield.

Derek is delivering the boat to Canada with three other crew members that are training with him on the boat, it really is a very exciting way for people to get involved in the project; to experience first hand what it takes to sail one of these ocean going grew hounds with a veteran of offshore single handed racing coaching them along the way.

During a satellite phone conversation late tonight Derek commented that “an emotional milestone was reached today; after the sudden end of the last race, we are very thankful to all that have supported us in our journey to the start line of the VELUX 5 Oceans, it is a big commitment that could not be possible without the support of everyone that has their name on the hull, we are getting to the start line together.”

We will continue to update the website as Derek moves across the North Atlantic on his way home.

Take care,

Team Spirit of Canada

To put your name on the hull send an email to: info@spiritofcanada.net

For more information on the positions available to train with Derek please email us at: Patianne@spiritofcanada.net or call 647.288.7342 or 902.529.2626.

www.spiritofcanada.net

This update was made possible with the support of Global Marine Networks, we thank them for their support.

Spirit of Canada Ocean Challenges can today announce that Starboard Sun will be the team’s first Eco Partner and will be the official supplier of renewable power generation equipment for the 2010 VELUX 5 OCEANS.

It is the first step in Spirit of Canada skipper Derek Hatfield’s bid to become the first person ever to sail around the world without using fossil fuels. Starboard Sun, together with its technology partner Superwind GmbH, will supply the Canadian yachtsman with a state-of-the-art wind generator as well as setting up his Eco 60 yacht to ensure it is 100 per cent self sufficient for the 30,000-mile VELUX 5 OCEANS.

Derek said: “We are very proud to be supported by Starboard Sun and the great companies that it represents including Superwind, the ultimate wind generator. Starboard Sun represents our first Eco partner and we are well on our way to the goal of racing around the world without utilizing fossil fuels along the way.”

Derek will compete in the VELUX 5 OCEANS in the Eco 60 class, a revolutionary fleet aimed at opening up ocean racing by making it more affordable as well as eco-friendly. The fleet, which will première in the 2010 VELUX 5 OCEANS, is for Open 60 yachts launched before 2003 and will be governed by a number of rules and regulations designed to limit costs and encourage positive environmental practices.

Starboard Sun has specialised in developing off grid power solutions all round the world and has been at the forefront of eco-friendly innovation for more than 12 years.

Starboard Sun managing director Mark Dettmer added: “Renewable Energy Technology is only a benefit when useful, affordable and reliable – and it is endeavours like the VELUX 5 OCEANS that helps the world understand what the possibilities of renewable energies can be.  We look forward in supporting Derek’s leadership as he helms the Spirit of Canada into both sailing and environmental history.”

For further information on Spirit of Canada, please contact Patianne Verburgh:

Office: +1.647.288.7342

Mobile: +1.902.529.2626

www.spiritofcanada.net

patianne@spiritofcanada.net

For further information on Starboard Sun Corp, please contact Mark Dettmer:

T: +1.716.213.0771

E: Dettmer@starboardsun.com

W: www.starboardsun.com / www.superwind.com

SPIRIT OF CANADA ANNONCE SON PREMIER ECO-PARTENAIRE

STARBOARD SUN FOURNIRA LES ÉQUIPEMENTS POUR LA PRODUCTION D’ÉNERGIE RENOUVELABLE

Spirit of Canada Ocean Challenges annonce aujourd’hui que le groupe Starboard Sun sera son premier Eco-partenaire et équipera le bateau en matériel de production d’énergie renouvelable pour la VELUX 5 OCEANS 2010.

Ce partenariat marque un premier pas pour le skipper canadien Derek Hatfield qui tente de devenir la première personne à boucler une course autour du monde à la voile sans avoir recours aux énergies fossiles. Starboard Sun et son partenaire technologique Superwind GmbH développeront un générateur éolien dernier-cri et équiperont l’Eco 60 de sorte qu’il soit 100% autonome en énergie tout au long des 30 000 milles du parcours de la VELUX 5 OCEANS.

“Nous sommes très fiers d’avoir le soutien de Starboard Sun et des entreprises qu’il représente, notamment Superwind, le must en matière de générateur éolien”, confie Derek. “Starboard Sun est notre premier Eco-partenaire et nous partons sur de très bonnes bases pour atteindre notre objectif qui est de faire le tour du monde en course sans utiliser d’énergie fossile”.

Derek Hatfield participera à la VELUX 5 OCEANS en classe Eco 60, une flotte révolutionnaire qui vise à ouvrir le monde de la course au large en solitaire en la rendant plus abordable, mais aussi respectueuse de l’environnement. Cette classe qui sera inaugurée dans le cadre de la VELUX 5 OCEANS 2010 est ouverte à tous les Open 60 mis à l’eau avant 2003 et sera soumise à des règles conçues pour limiter les coûts et encourager des pratiques environnementales positives.

Starboard Sun est spécialisé dans le développement de solutions d’autonomie en énergie partout dans le monde et l’entreprise est à la pointe de l’innovation écologique depuis plus de 12 ans.

“La technologie des énergies renouvelables n’est vraiment avantageuse que si elle est efficace, abordable et fiable, explique Mark Dettmer, directeur général de Starboard Sun. Ce sont de grandes aventures comme la VELUX 5 OCEANS qui permettent au monde de comprendre les possibilités qu’offrent les énergies renouvelables. Nous sommes très heureux de soutenir Derek pour inscrire Spirit of Canada dans l’histoire de la voile et de la protection de l’environnement”.

Pour plus d’informations sur Spirit of Canada, merci de contacter Patianne Verburgh :

Office: +1.647.288.7342

Mobile: +1.902.529.2626

www.spiritofcanada.net

patianne@spiritofcanada.net

Pour plus d’informations sur Starboard Sun Corp, merci de contacter Mark Dettmer :

T: +1.716.213.0771

E: Dettmer@starboardsun.com

W: www.starboardsun.com / www.superwind.com

LE SKIPPER CANADIEN RACHETE L’ECO 60 DE L’AMERICAIN RICH WILSON

Derek Hatfield annonce aujourd’hui qu’il vient d’acquérir un bateau pour participer à la VELUX 5 OCEANS. Le marin originaire du New Brunswick, qui compte parmi les skippers Canadiens les plus expérimentés, a racheté le monocoque Eco 60 Great American III (ancien Solidaires) de l’Américain Rich Wilson.

Le bateau sera rebaptisé Spirit of Canada pour prendre le départ de l’épreuve de 30 000 milles autour du monde, qui débutera à La Rochelle en octobre prochain. Ce sera la seconde participation de Derek à la VELUX 5 OCEANS. Lors de l’édition 2002/2003 il avait terminé troisième en Classe II, ce qui lui avait alors valu le titre de Marin de l’Année 2003 au Canada.
“Le nouveau Spirit of Canada a un très beau pedigree”, a déclaré Derek Hatfield. “Il a participé à plusieurs tours du monde et il est en parfait état. Rich n’avait pas lésiné sur les moyens pour le préparer au dernier Vendée Globe. Il sera très vite prêt pour le départ en octobre. Nous sommes très heureux de cette nouvelle classe ECO 60 et du nouveau Spirit of Canada“.
Dessiné par le célèbre architecte français Bernard Nivelt pour le skipper Thierry Dubois, le 60 pieds est lancé en 1999 pour prendre part au Vendée Globe 2000. Il rejoint ensuite la flotte de la VELUX 5 OCEANS 2002/03 où il termine second en Classe I, toujours sous les couleurs de Solidaires avec Thierry Dubois. En 2004, il boucle un nouveau tour du monde dans le Vendée Globe (hors course suite à une escale en Nouvelle-Zélande) sous le nom de VM Matériaux avec Patrice Carpentier. Dans l’édition suivante en 2008, il termine à une belle neuvième place, skippé par Rich Wilson.

Derek Hatfield s’apprête à l’emmener une nouvelle fois autour du monde pour la VELUX 5 OCEANS 2010-11 dans la catégorie Eco 60, une classe destinée aux monocoques de 60 pieds construits avant 2003 qui vise à limiter l’aspect financier pour mettre l’accent sur le talent, la détermination et les qualités de marin de chaque skipper. L’objectif de Derek est de devenir le premier homme à boucler une course autour du monde à la voile sans avoir recours aux énergies fossiles.
“La VELUX 5 OCEANS est source d’inspiration. Elle offre l’occasion de montrer au plus grand nombre que chacun d’entre nous peut apporter sa pierre à l’édifice et qu’ensemble nous pouvons changer les choses pour les générations futures”, a ajouté Derek Hatfield.

Le skipper Canadien commencera l’entraînement début mai en convoyant le bateau de France, où il est actuellement basé, jusqu’en Nouvelle-Écosse où Spirit of Canada sera préparé en vue du tour du monde. Il sera notamment repeint aux couleurs rouges si caractéristiques de Spirit of Canada, avec les noms des 7000 personnes soutenant le projet depuis huit ans, qui figuraient déjà sur le dernier Open 60 de Derek et qui l’accompagneront comme “équipage virtuel” lors de ses longues traversées en solitaire.

Pour plus d’informations sur la VELUX 5 OCEANS, merci de contacter Tim Kelly, Directeur de la Communication :

T: + 44 7773 325 533

E: tkelly@velux5oceans.com

W: www.velux5oceans.com

Notes aux rédacteurs

VELUX 5 OCEANS – Le Défi Absolu en Solitaire

La VELUX 5 OCEANS est la plus ancienne course autour du monde en solitaire encore en activité aujourd’hui. Organisée tous les quatre ans depuis 1982, elle constitue l’épreuve la plus longue et la plus éprouvante toutes disciplines confondues. La VELUX 5 OCEANS est un marathon autour du monde composé de cinq sprints océaniques. Les skippers traverseront cinq océans sur un parcours total de 30 000 milles nautiques. La prochaine VELUX 5 OCEANS aura lieu en 2010-2011 et promet de toucher un public international grâce aux aventures des marins qui seront suivies à la TV, à la radio, dans la presse écrite, sur Internet et sur les téléphones mobiles.

www.velux5oceans.com

Le Groupe VELUX

VELUX a vocation à conduire le développement de l’habitat et du cadre de vie, grâce à l’entrée de lumière naturelle et d’air frais par le toit. Sa gamme de produits se décline en fenêtres de toit, conduits de lumière, solutions pour toits plats et en produits annexes tels que les habillages et stores intérieurs, les volets roulants, les raccords et compléments d’installation, les commandes électriques et les capteurs solaires pour toitures. VELUX, qui dispose d’usines de production dans onze pays et détient des sociétés dans presque quarante pays, est l’une des plus importantes enseignes pour les matériaux de second œuvre dans le secteur du bâtiment et ses produits sont vendus dans le monde entier. Le Groupe emploie environ 10 000 personnes dans le monde et appartient à la société VKR Holding A/S, intégralement détenue par des fondations d’utilité publique et par la famille du fondateur.

www.velux.com

Clipper Ventures Plc

Cette année marque le 40e anniversaire du tour du monde historique de Sir Robin Knox-Johnston en solitaire et sans escale. Aujourd’hui Président de Clipper Ventures, il continue de promouvoir les courses à la voile autour du monde. Clipper Ventures, société de sports nautiques fondée en 1995, a pour objectif de développer et de promouvoir des événements capables de générer un niveau important de participants, de revenus, de couverture médiatique et de retombées pour les sponsors associés. La société Clipper Ventures est propriétaire des droits de la Clipper Round the World Yacht Race et de la VELUX 5 OCEANS.

www.clipper-ventures.com

La Rochelle

Depuis 1000 ans, La Rochelle « la rebelle » aime la différence : démocrate bien avant l’heure, elle est protestante quand la France entière est catholique ; elle innove et bouscule les idées reçues et devient ville pionnière en matière de développement durable. Tout au long de l’histoire, La Rochelle et son agglomération ont affiché leurs différences. Depuis toujours tournée vers la mer et riche d’un passé mouvementé, l’agglomération rochelaise est restée bouillonnante d’idées et d’événements. Le nautisme et les courses à la voile sont fortement ancrés dans sa culture et de nombreux événements se sont déroulés dans cette ville où l’industrie nautique française a développé nombre de ses atouts. Escales de la Volvo Ocean Race, du Global Challenge, de la Clipper Race, départ de la Transat 6,50 Charente-Maritime/Bahia, commémoration du 400e anniversaire de la découverte du Québec, Salon nautique international à flot du Grand Pavois… Autant d’événements qui ont hissé La Rochelle au rang des grandes capitales de la voile internationale. La Rochelle et son agglomération gardent à jamais le cap tourné vers l’avenir !

www.ville-larochelle.fr

www.agglo-larochelle.fr

Established in France in 1853 by the American Hiram Hutchinson, Aigle today stands for uncompromising quality combined with superb design and craftsmanship. Aigle’s ambition is to help man live in harmony with nature and as such; Aigle is actively involved in perpetual recycling and fully support  the “Eco Circle” concept, the closed-loop recycling system for certain polyester products. Through recycling, you can help reduce waste and oil consumption. “Eco Circle” reduces energy and carbon-dioxide emissions by one-fifth compared with production or raw polyester material from petroleum. Aigle recognizes its responsibility to protect the environment by committing to minimize the ecological impact, both through behavior, design and development of products.

For more information about Aigle Canada, please visit: http://shop.aigle.ca/

About Derek Hatfield and Spirit of Canada

Derek Hatfield was the 2003 Canadian Rolex Sailor of the Year and is the 126th person in history to finish a single-handed race around the world. Derek is the first to ever fly the Canadian flag as a competitor in the grueling Vendee Globe single handed around the world race. Competing in the Open 40 “Spirit of Canada,” he finished 1^st in fleet in the 2002/03 Around Alone race, despite a life threatening and catastrophic capsize near Cape Horn.

For more information about Spirit of Canada please visit: www.spiritofcanada.net

Contacts:

Spirit of Canada Ocean Challenges
Patianne Verburgh
+1.902.529.2626
patianne@spiritofcanada.net

Aigle Canada
Fabrice Cambray
+1.902.406.7495
fabrice@aigle.ca

What sailor wouldn’t enjoy watching his or her name race to victory with Derek Hatfield in the VELUX 5 Oceans single-handed race around the world? Add the name of your favourite sailor to the hull of Spirit of Canada and immortalize his or her love of sailing. You’ll receive a Spirit of Canada Gift Pack of team gear that you can wrap and place under the tree.

Get onboard today. Check out packages starting at just $100. 

The VELUX 5 OCEANS today launched its sustainability agenda under the banner of ‘TAKING ON THE ELEMENTS’. The concept brings together all the key stakeholders in the race under the umbrella of the shared value of sustainability, providing a basis of understanding and a platform for activities and communications in 2010 and 2011.

TAKING ON THE ELEMENTS defines the vision, strategy and tactics under which Clipper Ventures as race organiser, VELUX as title sponsor, La Rochelle as start/finish port, the other host ports around the world and all future race partners and suppliers can embrace a message of sustainability through the platform of The Ultimate Solo Challenge.

At a race reception at the Nautic Boat Show in Paris, Chairman of Clipper Ventures Sir Robin Knox-Johnston was joined the Mayor of La Rochelle Maxime Bono and President of VELUX France, Michel Langrand. The three main players in the VELUX 5 OCEANS 2010-11 all outlined their commitment to TAKING ON THE ELEMENTS and promoting sustainability across the world.

Sir Robin Knox-Johnston stated, “The climate is changing for the worse. Climate change is man-made and is a serious challenge for society – it is our responsibility as humans to reverse this trend. Because we care about the environment of the race, we need to handle it with care, for the benefit of the world and mankind. As a major global sporting event, the VELUX 5 OCEANS is committed to contributing to the fight against climate change. TAKING ON THE ELEMENTS is a concept designed to link the race to its environment and the challenges the world on sustainable development. The ocean, sun and wind are our shared universe, and protecting them our common objective.”

“The VELUX 5 OCEANS through the race organisation as well as the skippers, partners, stakeholders and followers, strongly supports sustainable development. Together we will take the message of sustainability across five oceans by informing, inspiring and interacting with a global audience. By our actions and approach, the VELUX 5 OCEANS will demonstrate how it is possible to work against climate change at various levels. We do not claim to be carbon neutral, but believe that any size of contribution counts as fighting climate change.”

Michel Langrand, President of VELUX France, added, “In the VELUX Group we are very committed to creating solutions for sustainable living. Our vision for future buildings is that they must have a good indoor climate, they need to be energy-efficient and they must utilise sustainable energy sources. With our products and knowledge we have something to offer in all three areas.”

At the race start in La Rochelle The VELUX Group will showcase a zero energy concept house and announce and celebrate the winners of the International VELUX Award 2010 for students of architecture at an award event. Besides helping others reducing their impact on the climate The VELUX Group have set a goal of cutting its own CO2 emission by 50% in 2020.

Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, concluded, “Clipper Ventures has equally committed to TAKING ON THE ELEMENTS through the creation of the new Eco 60 Class which recycles existing boats and through its associated rules which insist on renewable onboard energy and actively rewards skippers who promote sustainability. At the same time, we will seek to change our mindset through a Race Responsibility Charter which outlines how we are as a race organisation will act and operate.”

“I hope that all the skippers will embrace TAKING ON THE ELEMENTS and that this umbrella will welcome further race partners who want to take advantage of the race platform to promote sustainability to a global audience in a meaningful way.”

Two of the confirmed entries in the Eco 60 Class, Derek Hatfield of Canada and Brad van Liew of USA, have embraced the sustainability opportunities of the exciting new Eco 60 Class:

Derek Hatfield: “We will be competing in the Eco 60 Class as it embodies our core values with regard to the environment and education. The aim is to consume zero fossil fuels as we race around the world. We will be able to attain this by utilizing wind, solar and hydrogen fuel cell technology. The overall budget is relatively small and would be attractive to a company that can use this platform to increase their brand exposure while aligning themselves with a sustainability message. We are currently seeking partners that have these similar goals.”

Brad van Liew: “The Eco 60 Rules are only a starting point. Our true goal is to race around the world without using a drop of diesel fuel, proving that modern solo racing no longer requires it. The class requires the use of existing race boats, recycled to compete in what will be a hugely competitive event.”

TAKING ON THE ELEMENTS: Vision, Strategy and Actions
Please visit www.velux5oceans.com for more information on TAKING ON THE ELEMENTS

The ambition of the VELUX 5 OCEANS is to minimise our contribution to climate change via direct action and promoting sustainable development to a global audience via the race platform, including its skippers, partners and stakeholders

The VELUX 5 OCEANS accepts the United Nations’ position that greenhouse gas emissions are set to lead to a marked increase in the Earth’s average temperature which is predicted to have significant negative consequences on the planet’s environment. Climate change from rising temperatures has already led to major impacts for the world’s environment and will continue to affect the planet’s oceans and atmosphere, the base environment for the VELUX 5 OCEANS.

Clipper Ventures:

- The Eco 60 Class:

Recycling existing boats: The Eco 60 Class avoids significant investment in both financial and material resources in constructing new boats, instead leveraging existing yachts

Power systems: The Eco 60 Class rules state that there must be three independent power systems onboard on each yacht. One can be fossil fuel based, whilst two must be based on renewable energy and contribute at least 30% of the required power onboard

- Race Responsibility Charter –

Clipper Ventures has published a Charter outlining how it will operate and act in order to try to make itself more sustainable

VELUX:

- The VELUX House in La Rochelle:

The VELUX House is the official exit pavilion at the COP15 in Copenhagen. The next destination is La Rochelle for the start of the VELUX 5 OCEANS. The house is designed to replace the former closed roof construction of multi-storey buildings and demonstrate how energy renovation of older apartment buildings can be achieved by utilising daylight and natural ventilation at the same time as minimising the use of resources – and thus CO2 emissions.

- The International VELUX Award 2010 for Students of Architecture with focus on sustainable living, La Rochelle October 2010:

“Light of Tomorrow” is the overall theme of the International VELUX Award. The award seeks to challenge the future of daylight in the built environment with an open-minded and experimental approach. Therefore, the Award seeks to widen the boundaries of daylight in architecture, including aesthetics, functionality, sustainability, and the interaction between buildings and environment. The Awards will be hosted in La Rochelle on the start weekend of the VELUX 5 OCEANS in October 2010.

www.velux5oceans.com

Recently Derek Hatfield appeared on “At The Table” with Amy Smith for a ½ hour interview on his past two around the world races and the upcoming Velux 5 Oceans starting in October 2010.

Watch the interview here: http://www.cbc.ca/atthetable/