Fourth entry confirmed for the Velux 5 Oceans

Polish skipper Zbigniew Gutkowski joins the international line up in the Eco 60 Class

Clipper Ventures today confirmed Polish skipper Zbigniew Gutkowski as the fourth entry in the exciting new Eco 60 Class in the VELUX 5 OCEANS 2010-11. The experienced skipper, known as “Gutek”, joined Sir Robin Knox-Johnston and the Mayor of La Rochelle at the Nautic Boat Show in Paris to launch his campaign “Polish Ocean Racing” for the next edition of The ultimate Solo Challenge.

Gutek (36), is one of the leading sailors in Poland, with a wealth of competitive offshore and inshore racing experience, with over 100,000 miles onboard 60 foot multihulls and 60 foot monohulls. He will announce his boat, sponsors and partners in Poland in January before beginning preparations in earnest for the start of the VELUX 5 OCEANS from La Rochelle in October 2010.

Commenting on his entry, Gutek said, “The VELUX 5 OCEANS has long been an ambition for me - it is a classic event, with a rich heritage and fantastic format. The Eco 60 Class has made the race accessible and the event offers all the support to deliver significant exposure in Poland and around the world. My ultimate dream is the Vendée Globe, and there is no other race which offers a single-handed experience of the Southern Ocean – it is the best preparation possible, whilst also delivering all the unique challenges of the challenging five ocean sprints.”

“We will confirm our choice of boat and all our partners and sponsors in January, but the Polish Ocean Racing campaign is coming together really well. I look forward to becoming the first Polish skipper to solo circumnavigate the planet. My goal is to win the race, and I have already been training for months to take on this incredible journey.”

Zbigniew, who hails from Gdansk, is a former member of Poland National Sailing Team in Olympic Class 470 (1987 -1995) and has also competed at the highest level in the 49er Class. In 2001, he was Watch Captain onboard WARTA-POLPHARMA in The Race, the non-stop race around the world for multihulls, and in 2005 he skippered the ORMA 60 Bonduelle in the Nokia Oops Cup. He also attempted to break the monohull record for a non-stop circumnavigation onboard the Volvo 60 Bank BPH ex ASSA ABLOY, but damage forced the crew to Cape Town after 9,500 miles.

Speaking from the Paris Boat Show, Sir Robin Knox-Johnston concluded, “Gutek’s entry confirms the growing attraction of the international Eco 60 Class and the VELUX 5 OCEANS. The race has always attracted a fleet of diverse characters and nationalities, and the 2010 edition looks set to be no different. The event format has always taken solo ocean racing to new audiences around the world, and Poland is an important market for Clipper and VELUX. Gutek is a world class sailor with the skills and determination to complete and even win the race, achieving an historical first for a Polish skipper.”

“We have already announced skippers from four countries - Canada, USA, Belgium and now Poland – and currently have another six entries preparing to announce in the coming months. The Eco 60 Class has once again made solo ocean racing accessible and attractive – combined with the €500,000 skipper prizemoney, investment in accommodation and communications for the entered teams and our global media activities across TV, print and digital channels, we offer a tangible return for sailing sponsors.”

Clipper Ventures, joined by VELUX and La Rochelle, also launched “TAKING ON THE ELEMENTS” in Paris, the commitment to taking a message of sustainability around the world via the race, existing sponsors and host ports, and for competing teams and future partners and suppliers.