Facts and figures

The Ultimate Solo Challenge in Numbers

30,000: the length of the VELUX 5 OCEANS in nautical miles, making it the longest single-handed event in the world

7,000: the amount of calories skippers will have to consume in the Southern Ocean each day

3,000: number of hours the ocean racers will spend at sea in the solitary confinement of their yachts

250: the number of packets of freeze-dried food the skippers will eat during the race

80: the speed in knots which the wind can reach in the Southern Ocean

67: the age Sir Robin Knox Johnston was when he completed the 2006 VELUX 5 OCEANS to become the oldest person to complete a solo round the world race

73: the number of skippers who have finished the VELUX 5 OCEANS race, only 65 per cent of starters

65: the top speed of an Eco 60 yacht in kilometres per hour

60: the length of an Eco 60 in feet

57: the age of the 2010-11 VELUX 5 OCEANS race's oldest skipper, Derek Hatfield

50 feet: the height waves can reach in the Southern Ocean

30: the average period of sleep, in minutes, skippers will get at any one time

20: the age of the 2010 VELUX 5 OCEANS race's youngest skipper, Oscar Mead

17: the number of megabytes of video footage sent back from each boat each week

7: the number of yachts sunk or shipwrecked in the race's 28-year history

2: the number of skippers who have lost their lives competing in the race since 1982

1: the number of people onboard to sail an Eco 60