Promising Outlook for the Second Title Sponsorship of VELUX 5 OCEANS

    LA ROCHELLE, FRANCE, November 18, 2009 /24-7PressRelease/ -- After a successful partnership in 2006/07 the VELUX Group is once more holding the title sponsorship of VELUX 5 OCEANS - renowned as the longest and toughest sailing event in the world.

VELUX 5 OCEANS is one out of a handful of around the world yacht races, but it is unique in the sense that no other race can match the concept of one skipper racing alone across five grueling oceans and with five demanding stops. Last time the event generated EUR66million in media value; this time the target is to reach up to EUR100 million.

"This is an ambitious target, and everybody involved have to do their utmost to reach it. But with the latest update on skippers and nationalities we think the prospects of creating an-other success of VELUX 5 OCEANS is promising," says Chief Marketing Officer, Michael K. Rasmussen, the VELUX Group.

With one year to race start in La Rochelle, France, nine skippers from seven different nations have until now confirmed entries. So far only Canadian offshore racer Derek Hatfield has officially announced his entry. The remaining eight skippers will be announced in the coming weeks and months as they finalise their campaigns.

Sustainability as an overall theme

For the upcoming eighth edition of the "Ultimate Solo Challenge" sustainability will umbrella the message of the race. Both race organiser Clipper Ventures, the city of La Rochelle and the VELUX Group will contribute with initiatives and activities to support the sustainability agenda.

While Clipper Ventures is introducing a new ECO60 class with focus on sustainability and economy and La Rochelle is aspiring to be one of the greenest cities in France, the VELUX Group is very active within Sustainable Living and seeks to create better living environment for people with daylight and fresh air through the roof. For the festive weekend of the race start the VELUX Group will showcase a zero energy concept house and have the prize ceremony of the International VELUX Award for students of architecture with focus on sustainable living. When the race is on the skippers will also be involved and numerous sustainable activities will be introduced online for the race followers.

"We are very pleased to see sustainability being part of the race as the VELUX Group is committed to this agenda. We strongly promote the principles of Active House - buildings do not have to be energy consuming at all, they can be energy producing - and internally we have set a goal of reducing our CO2 emission by 50% in 2020," says Michael K. Rasmussen.

"VELUX 5 OCEANS is a prime global sports event with elements of big adventure and strengths of minds. Therefore, it also has the ability to carry along the message of fighting climate changes," says Michael Rasmussen.

The race starts on 17 October 2010 in La Rochelle, France, and after stops in Cape Town (South Africa), Wellington (New Zealand), Salvador (Brazil) and Charleston (North Carolina, USA). It ends in the same place in June 2011.

VELUX 5 OCEANS - the ultimate solo challenge
The VELUX 5 OCEANS is the oldest and most established, single-handed, round the world yacht race. With a rich sporting heritage, the race has been contested every four years since 1982, previously under the names of BOC Challenge and more recently Around Alone. The VELUX 5 OCEANS demands the ultimate in human endeavour; the number of people who have climbed Mount Everest or travelled to the moon by far exceeds those who have completed a solo circumnavigation.

In 2006, the race celebrated its 25th anniversary and established a special partnership with the title sponsor VELUX. Over the years, the race has consistently attracted a wide array of entries from around the globe, making heroes of many celebrated yachtsmen and women, including Mike Golding, Philippe Jeantot, Giovanni Soldini, Jean-Luc van den Heede, Isabelle Autissier, Bernard Stamm and Emma Richards.

www.velux5oceans.com

About VELUX
VELUX creates better living environments with daylight and fresh air through the roof. Our product range contains a wide assortment of roof windows and skylights, as well as systems for flat roofs. In addition, VELUX offers many types of decoration and sun screening, roller shutters, installation products, products for remote control and thermal solar panels for roof installation. With manufacturing companies in ten countries and sales companies in approx. 40, VELUX is one of the strongest brands in the global building materials sector and its products are sold in most parts of the world. The VELUX Group has around 10,000 employees and is owned by VKR Holding A/S, a limited company wholly owned by foundations and family.

For more details, visit www.velux.com

About Clipper Ventures Plc
This year marks the 39th anniversary of Sir Robin Knox-Johnston's historic solo and non-stop circumnavigation in 1970. Now, as Chairman of Clipper Ventures PLC, he is at the forefront of promoting round the world yacht racing. Clipper Ventures, the marine sports company founded in 1995 and listed on AIM stock market in London in 1999, specialises in developing and promoting major events capable of attracting significant participation, income, media coverage and associated sponsorship revenue. The company owns the rights to the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race, the VELUX 5 OCEANS, and Zapcat Racing, the world's largest one-design powerboat series.

www.clipper-ventures.com

Media Contact:
Keith Hobbs - Business Services Associates, Inc. - 9413 Greenfield Drive -
Raleigh, NC 27615-2306 - Phone - 919.844.0064 - E-mail - [email protected]

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