The Ultimate Solo Challenge began on October 13, which is divided into five sprints that together will circumvent the world. There are five yachts and solo sailors in this years race. Brad Van Liew is the leader in the first sprint, which started in France then around Spain, south, almost off the coast of South America and then back to the southern tip of Africa. The first sprint ends in November at Capetown, South Africa.
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| Solo Captains and their Yachts |
Not only is this an amazing race but the internet media coverage is fantastic. On their
website is a google map of the day to day movement of each of the sailboats. There are interviews and updates from the captains of each boat taken from stationary video cameras mounted in their cabins. Don't you love it when technology makes those adrenaline sports even more exciting!
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| Leader American Brad Van Liew |
Brad Van Liew, the American in the Velux 5 Oceans solo yacht race around the world is still in the lead. His 60' yacht, Le Pingouin has finished 2nd, 3rd and 5th in other challenging races and is looking toward finishing 1st in 2011. The yachts left Wellington, NZ eleven days ago and are headed toward Punta Del Este, which is an upscale resort town on the southern tip of Uruguay. The skippers represent the countries of Poland, Canada, Belgium, the UK and the US. Follow the third sprint here.
