Brad Van Liew
Encyclopedia
Brad Van Liew is a premier offshore sailor specializing in extreme performance events. He has competed in some of the world's toughest offshore ocean races
. He is renowned for his single-handed sailing
skills and experience. As a racing veteran he has completed both the 1998/99 Around Alone event (third place Open 50 Class) and 2002/03 (first place Open 50 Class). Van Liew has been recognized by several organizations for his sportsmanship, seamanship, communications and competitiveness.
In 2010 Van Liew returned to the VELUX 5 Oceans Race
(previously Around Alone and the BOC Challenge), in the new Eco 60 Class. Brad’s sailing resume includes everything from Newport to Bermuda races at the young age of twelve to Open-60 regattas.
A self-described adrenaline junkie, he is active in offroad motorcycling
, horseback riding, hunting
, SCUBA
, and also boasts a multi-engine commercial pilot license. He was born and raised in Southern California
in Los Angeles
and Rancho Santa Fe
. Van Liew is a graduate of the University of Southern California
and a member of the California Yacht Club and the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club
. He resides in Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina with his wife and two children.
He studied real estate development
at USC but when that turned out not to be enough fun, he founded an airplane charter company. When he and wife Meaghan bought their first boat together, it brought back all his earlier hopes of competing in the BOC Challenge. So they bought a racing boat that became Balance Bar for the 1998/99 Around Alone. In the 2003/04 Around Alone with the support of title sponsor Tommy Hilfiger
, Brad won every leg of the race in Class two. After competing in the Around Alone 2003/04 Van Liew retired from competitive sailing.
During his eight-year absence, he was the Executive Director of the South Carolina Maritime Foundation. Under his leadership the Foundation built a new “tall ship
” for youth education and sailing history.
After eight years away from competitive solo sailing, Brad purchased a boat in France
with a distinguished racing history, Le Pingouin, and completely refitted her to an Eco 60 vessel. It underwent a makeover that included new B&G electronics, Samson ropes, support and equipment from sponsors Ondeck, Gill, Simrad, Harken, West Marine, AlpineAire, and Awlgrip. Brad is using hydrogenerators that allow him to race using little fossil fuel
s. In fact, the Velux 5 Oceans race is a test bed for this hydrogenerator technology.
By completing the third circumnavigation Brad surpassed the previous record set by his friend and mentor Mike Plant. Plant took part in the 1986 edition of the race (then known as the BOC Challenge) followed by the inaugural Vendee Globe in 1989. Plant was lost at sea en route to his third round-the-world race in 1992. When asked about the record he set and his mentor Plant, he said, "Until now Mike Plant was the definitive American solo sailor. A good friend of mine who also knew Mike asked me what it feels like to have achieved what he was trying to achieve when he died. Well, it's a big deal to me. "This win won't mean a whole lot to a whole lot of people but it means one hell of a lot to me and a few others. It is something that I have done and can take to the grave that no-one can deny.0 That's why people climb mountains, sail solo round the world or even go to the moon. It's one of those kind of moments."
As the sun set over the French port of La Rochelle, where the 2010/2011 running of the VELUX 5 OCEANS began in October, the lone mast of Brad's Eco 60 Le Pingouin came into view blasting along under full main and foresail. A small fleet of spectator boats was waiting on the finish line as Brad cruised in at 2053 local time (1853UTC). Among the well-wishers were his wife Meaghan and his mother Marcia, as well as French solo sailing legend Catherine Chabaud, the first owner of Le Pingouin--formerly known as Whirlpool, Tiscali and Pro Form. Van Liew renamed the boat Le Pingouin in homage to the name Chabaud registered her as when she was built in 1998. It is the second time the yacht has successfully made it round the world.
Van Liew stamped his dominance on the race leading the fleet into the Atlantic toward Cape Town south Africa on the first leg. He proceeded to win each of the five legs. Despite his experience it was no easy feat. "It's just been a really fantastic event," Brad added. "You've got to live life large and for me this event is who I am. It feels amazing to have won this race, and even better that it's my second one. To sweep it twice is kind of unheard of, so I'm pretty happy! I've met every objective I set myself and then some."
In the final sprint Brad sailed 3,809 miles from his hometown of Charleston in South Carolina to La Rochelle in 12 days, 23 hours and 52 minutes at an average speed of 12.21 knots. Over the entire race Brad sailed 31,924 miles.
Ocean racing
Ocean Racing may refer to either yacht racing, in particular of the Maxi yachts; or multisport events with a significant Ocean related Swim or Kayak...
. He is renowned for his single-handed sailing
Sailing
Sailing is the propulsion of a vehicle and the control of its movement with large foils called sails. By changing the rigging, rudder, and sometimes the keel or centre board, a sailor manages the force of the wind on the sails in order to move the boat relative to its surrounding medium and...
skills and experience. As a racing veteran he has completed both the 1998/99 Around Alone event (third place Open 50 Class) and 2002/03 (first place Open 50 Class). Van Liew has been recognized by several organizations for his sportsmanship, seamanship, communications and competitiveness.
In 2010 Van Liew returned to the VELUX 5 Oceans Race
VELUX 5 Oceans Race
The VELUX 5 OCEANS Race is a round-the-world single-handed yacht race, sailed in stages, managed by Clipper Ventures Plc since 2000. Its current name comes from its main sponsor, VELUX, a Danish company. Originally known as the BOC Challenge, for the title sponsor BOC Gases, the first edition was...
(previously Around Alone and the BOC Challenge), in the new Eco 60 Class. Brad’s sailing resume includes everything from Newport to Bermuda races at the young age of twelve to Open-60 regattas.
A self-described adrenaline junkie, he is active in offroad motorcycling
Motorcycling
Motorcycling is the act of riding a motorcycle. A variety of subcultures and lifestyles have been built up around motorcycling.-Benefits:Robert M. Pirsig's book Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance was a paean celebrating motorcycling...
, horseback riding, hunting
Hunting
Hunting is the practice of pursuing any living thing, usually wildlife, for food, recreation, or trade. In present-day use, the term refers to lawful hunting, as distinguished from poaching, which is the killing, trapping or capture of the hunted species contrary to applicable law...
, SCUBA
Scuba diving
Scuba diving is a form of underwater diving in which a diver uses a scuba set to breathe underwater....
, and also boasts a multi-engine commercial pilot license. He was born and raised in Southern California
Southern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
and Rancho Santa Fe
Rancho Santa Fe, California
Rancho Santa Fe known locally as ″The Ranch″, is one of the most exclusive and affluent communities in Southern California. It is also a census-designated place in San Diego County, California and an unincorporated bedroom community of San Diego County...
. Van Liew is a graduate of the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
and a member of the California Yacht Club and the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club
Royal Bermuda Yacht Club
The Royal Bermuda Yacht Club is a private yacht club that was established as the Bermuda Yacht Club on November 1, 1844. In 1845, Prince Albert consented to become Patron of the Club and in 1846 the Club was permitted to add the adjective "Royal" to its name...
. He resides in Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina with his wife and two children.
He studied real estate development
Real estate development
Real estate development, or Property Development, is a multifaceted business, encompassing activities that range from the renovation and re-lease of existing buildings to the purchase of raw land and the sale of improved land or parcels to others...
at USC but when that turned out not to be enough fun, he founded an airplane charter company. When he and wife Meaghan bought their first boat together, it brought back all his earlier hopes of competing in the BOC Challenge. So they bought a racing boat that became Balance Bar for the 1998/99 Around Alone. In the 2003/04 Around Alone with the support of title sponsor Tommy Hilfiger
Tommy Hilfiger
Thomas Jacob "Tommy" Hilfiger is an American fashion designer and founder of the premium lifestyle brand Tommy Hilfiger.-Early life:...
, Brad won every leg of the race in Class two. After competing in the Around Alone 2003/04 Van Liew retired from competitive sailing.
During his eight-year absence, he was the Executive Director of the South Carolina Maritime Foundation. Under his leadership the Foundation built a new “tall ship
Tall ship
A tall ship is a large, traditionally-rigged sailing vessel. Popular modern tall ship rigs include topsail schooners, brigantines, brigs and barques. "Tall Ship" can also be defined more specifically by an organization, such as for a race or festival....
” for youth education and sailing history.
After eight years away from competitive solo sailing, Brad purchased a boat in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
with a distinguished racing history, Le Pingouin, and completely refitted her to an Eco 60 vessel. It underwent a makeover that included new B&G electronics, Samson ropes, support and equipment from sponsors Ondeck, Gill, Simrad, Harken, West Marine, AlpineAire, and Awlgrip. Brad is using hydrogenerators that allow him to race using little fossil fuel
Fossil fuel
Fossil fuels are fuels formed by natural processes such as anaerobic decomposition of buried dead organisms. The age of the organisms and their resulting fossil fuels is typically millions of years, and sometimes exceeds 650 million years...
s. In fact, the Velux 5 Oceans race is a test bed for this hydrogenerator technology.
Racing History
American ocean racer Brad Van Liew sailed over the finish line of the VELUX 5 OCEANS on May 27, 2011 and into the record books by winning every leg of the 30,000-mile challenge for the second time in his solo sailing career. He is the only sailor in the 29-year history of the race (aka the BOC Challenge, the Around Alone, and VELUX 5 OCEANS) to have taken clean sweeps in two races (having also won each leg of the 2002/3 edition in class two). Van Liew is the first American to race solo around the world three times.By completing the third circumnavigation Brad surpassed the previous record set by his friend and mentor Mike Plant. Plant took part in the 1986 edition of the race (then known as the BOC Challenge) followed by the inaugural Vendee Globe in 1989. Plant was lost at sea en route to his third round-the-world race in 1992. When asked about the record he set and his mentor Plant, he said, "Until now Mike Plant was the definitive American solo sailor. A good friend of mine who also knew Mike asked me what it feels like to have achieved what he was trying to achieve when he died. Well, it's a big deal to me. "This win won't mean a whole lot to a whole lot of people but it means one hell of a lot to me and a few others. It is something that I have done and can take to the grave that no-one can deny.0 That's why people climb mountains, sail solo round the world or even go to the moon. It's one of those kind of moments."
As the sun set over the French port of La Rochelle, where the 2010/2011 running of the VELUX 5 OCEANS began in October, the lone mast of Brad's Eco 60 Le Pingouin came into view blasting along under full main and foresail. A small fleet of spectator boats was waiting on the finish line as Brad cruised in at 2053 local time (1853UTC). Among the well-wishers were his wife Meaghan and his mother Marcia, as well as French solo sailing legend Catherine Chabaud, the first owner of Le Pingouin--formerly known as Whirlpool, Tiscali and Pro Form. Van Liew renamed the boat Le Pingouin in homage to the name Chabaud registered her as when she was built in 1998. It is the second time the yacht has successfully made it round the world.
Van Liew stamped his dominance on the race leading the fleet into the Atlantic toward Cape Town south Africa on the first leg. He proceeded to win each of the five legs. Despite his experience it was no easy feat. "It's just been a really fantastic event," Brad added. "You've got to live life large and for me this event is who I am. It feels amazing to have won this race, and even better that it's my second one. To sweep it twice is kind of unheard of, so I'm pretty happy! I've met every objective I set myself and then some."
In the final sprint Brad sailed 3,809 miles from his hometown of Charleston in South Carolina to La Rochelle in 12 days, 23 hours and 52 minutes at an average speed of 12.21 knots. Over the entire race Brad sailed 31,924 miles.
External links
- http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/more/wires/03/25/2080.ap.sai.five.oceans.van.liew.1st.ld.writethru.0737/index.html
- http://sailmagazine.com/news/home/brad_van_liew_wins_third_leg_of_velux_5_oceans/
- http://www.sailing.org/35827.php
- http://www.petethomasoutdoors.com/2011/02/extreme-sailor-brad-van-liew-leads-pack-toward-cape-horn.html
- http://www.sail-world.com/USA/Velux-5-Oceans---Brad-Van-Liew-four-for-four/82651