Sir Robin Knox-Johnston is due to arrive in Gosport at 1100am today on board his new racing yacht, a Finot-designed Open 60. The boat will be moored at the Royal Clarence Yard, Cooperage Green, Gosport, where major work is to begin on it in preparation for the Bilbao start of the 2006 Velux 5 Oceans race on the 22 October.

The 5 Oceans race is the oldest single-handed round-the-world race, taking place every four years since 1982. This year’s edition has been toughened up, with longer legs between ports, and fewer, shorter stopovers.

The finalised dates and ports for the route are:
1st Leg Start, Bilbao, Spain: 22 October 2006
2nd Leg Start: Fremantle, Australia, 7 Jan 2007
3rd Leg Start: Norfolk, USA: 15 April 2007
Race Finish: Bilbao, Spain: Late April 2007

For more information visit www.velux5oceans.com