Basurko was the true local hero for the VELUX 5 OCEANS host city of Bilbao. Racing in a newly built IMOCA Open 60, Pakea, Basurko was plunging into the unknown. With the support of the entire Basque region, the young solo sailor simply got better and better throughout the race.

As a teenager, Basurko was inspired by fellow countryman, José Luis de Ugarte, in the 1988 Carlsberg Transatlantic Race as the Spanish skipper finished 17th in a fleet of 73 yachts aboard his Open 60 Castrol Solo. In the 1990-91 edition of the VELUX 5 OCEANS, Basurko's emotional connection with solo sailing magnified as he watched Ugarte and Australian skipper, Kanga Birtles, race each other round the planet. While Ugarte provided friendship and encouragement for the young Basque, Birtles would supply practical experience and a first taste of doublehanded sailing in the 1998 Trans Tasman Race. Winning this event from Australia to New Zealand confirmed Basurko's passion and dreams for singlehanded racing: in the skipper's own words, "By then, I was in love with this type of sailing."

The first leg of the VELUX 5 OCEANS saw his boat and sails battered by the Bay of Biscay storm after the first night at sea. Basurko returned to Bilbao to take advantage of his shore team base to recover from the storm. This stopover put him well behind the leaders. His track through the Atlantic was plagued by light winds and a shifty St Helena High around the Cape of Good Hope. The end of the first leg saw him well behind the rest of the fleet.

With a supportive shore team of friends and family, the second leg saw Unai begin to understand his boat more and more, with improving performance and speed. The Basque sailor finished third into Norfolk and stole third position overall from Knox-Johnston. The final sprint across the Atlantic was a straight battle between the two - although Knox-Johnston beat Basurko into Bilbao, he finished within time to guarantee a podium finish in his first round the world solo race. He was welcomed by hundreds of spectator boats who cheered on their hero, with thousands of people lining the shore and bridges in Bilbao to offer their respect and support.

Basurko's Basque, maritime background, immense support from his nation and three brothers, a sister and 65-year-old father who all sail, provide this skipper with a strong emotional link to the ocean: "Sailing alone" he comments, "it is perhaps the perfect union between sea, boat and man."