Switch on UK's Channel 4 to Watch Ocean!
February 22, 2007 0 comments
UK network broadcaster Channel 4 is showing Ocean!, a thrilling 12 part series starting on 25th February at 7.30am that tells the story of the epic solo sailing round the world adventure the VELUX 5 OCEANS.
UK network broadcaster Channel 4 is showing Ocean!, a thrilling 12 part series starting on 25th February at 7.30am that tells the story of the epic solo sailing round the world adventure the VELUX 5 OCEANS.
On 22nd October 2006, eight skippers assembled in Bilbao, Spain, to sail round the world in what is known as ‘The Ultimate Solo Challenge’ – the VELUX 5 OCEANS yacht race. Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, the 67 year old sailing legend who became the first man to circumnavigate the globe single-handed non-stop almost 40 years ago, is just one of the competitors in the grueling 30,000 mile race. He is set to become the oldest Briton to complete a solo circumnavigation, if he crosses the finish line in Bilbao in May this year to repeat his achievement of 1969.
Sailing a boat single-handed around the world is the ultimate physical, psychological and emotional challenge for any individual. Only 163 people have ever sailed solo round the world, one third of the number of people who have been into space. Ocean!, the story of the VELUX 5 OCEANS, follows the eight international skippers on a 30,000 mile journey around the globe, stopping in Australia and the USA en route.
The race is an epic of adventure where the first leg sees in the first 24 hours the fleet ravaged by a 70 knot hurricane storm forcing four of the racing yachts into port to affect repairs. A few weeks later two of the three British sailors, and pre-race favourites, Alex Thomson and Mike Golding dramatically withdraw from the race. Thomson, the youngest sailor in the race, was forced to abandon his flashy yacht Hugo Boss after his keel broke in the Southern Ocean. He took to a life raft and was heroically rescued by his bitter rival Mike Golding OBE, whose mast broke off in a bitter twist of fate just hours after he completed the harrowing rescue operation.
The first installment of the Ocean! Adventure introduces the ambitious skippers as they prepare for the marathon ahead and arrive in Bilbao for the race start. Getting to the start line is half the battle and what follows is an action packed tale of adventure, heroism and heart ache.
Ocean! is produced by APP Broadcast www.appbroadcast.com and executive produced by Andrew Preece.
The programme broadcasts on Channel 4 on Sunday 25th February at 07.30 am.
