Norfolk ready for magnificent send-off

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Unai Basurko celebrating arrival in Norfolk

The brave skippers of the Velux 5 Oceans, the solo round the world yacht race, are making final preparations to their yachts down at the Waterside Marina in Norfolk (Virginia, USA), ahead of the frantic final sprint back across the Atlantic to Bilbao (Basque Country).

Having left Bilbao in October 2006, the solo sailors from around the world are now so close to completing The Ultimate Solo Challenge. After sailing single-handed through the most desolate oceans on the planet and surviving the most extreme conditions in any sport, the skippers have been enjoying the warm hospitality of the City of Norfolk and the people of Hampton Roads.

The formula 1 yachts of the seas will leave Norfolk at 13:00 on Sunday April 15 and the City of Norfolk is preparing a farewell that none of the skippers will soon forget. The programme kicks off with the official race exhibition, which opens on Thursday April 12 at 10:00. Entry is free and there will be shops selling race clothing and official merchandise.

Highlights and low points

A race showcase will feature the highlights and low points of the race thus far, including the dramatic abandonment of Hugo Boss (Alex Thomson) in the Southern Ocean and the rescue by his fellow competitor, British skipper Mike Golding, who was then forced to retire with a broken mast on Ecover.

On Friday, April 13, from 16:00 – 15:00, there will be the Velux 5 Oceans "Party in the Park," sponsored by Sinclair Communications, to officially celebrate the Norfolk stopover. The public is welcome and encouraged to come on down and enjoy the festivities.

The race restart will be from a point just south of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel. At precisely 13:00, the starting gun will release these adventurous sailors on their final journey. But not without an enormous Norfolk send-off that involves a British aircraft carrier, a helicopter journey out to the start line for the skippers from downtown Norfolk, as well as music and festivities for the crowds of Norfolk well-wishers waving goodbye to the sailors from the Waterside Marina.

HMS Ocean, the largest ship in the Royal Navy's fleet, has agreed to offer its world class services to the Velux 5 Oceans. She will provide amazing facilities for media and the skippers alike, as helicopters from HMS Ocean will take the skippers straight from downtown Norfolk out to the start area, before delivering them to their yachts via military power boat. HMS Ocean will host journalists, guests and VIPs, providing one of the best views of the start at the mouth of the Chesapeake and stunning images.