Shiraishi was the youngest person to have solo circumnavigated the globe before, and had already sailed half way round the world from Japan to Newport to get Spirit of yukoh here. His inspiration and mentor was the late Yukoh Tada, previous Class 2 winner of the BOC Challenge, who committed suicide during the 1990/1 BOC Challenge: "When I was a boy, I read about Yukoh Tada doing the first BOC Challenge race and since then I wanted to follow in his footsteps. When he took part in the 3^rd BOC Challenge I was his apprentice, but he killed himself during the race and so I decided to take on the mantle and achieve his ambitions for him. I think today Yukoh will be happy in heaven."

Other Open 40 news: Class 2 skipper Derek Hatfield on Spirit of Canada restarted Leg 5 from Salvador to Newport RI today. His start time is in fact the same as the other boats, 13:00 local Brazilian time on 13^th April 2003.

With 572 miles to go Alan Paris on BTC Velocity unfortunately passed the closest landmark on his homeland of Bermuda 50 miles offshore and at midnight. Instead he will have to wait until he flies back there to take up a new job at the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute. Paris has been reflecting about life after the Around Alone as his personal odyssey is coming to an end: "How does one feel about that, when a large focus of your life for 2 solid years, as well as those around you, has been influenced by this desire to achieve the ’Everest’ of goals for an offshore sailor. The answer to that question will be different for all of us. I begin work on the 27^th May, 10 days after prize giving. Although this will be a bit of a rush, I feel that it’s important to get on with my new life ’after the Around Alone’ as soon as possible. Down time will lead to reflection and some of those thoughts are bound to be quite emotional as the Around Alone family breaks up and we all go our separate ways, even though the bond that has been established during this race will remain forever."

QUOTES FROM THE PRESS CONFERENCE

"When I was a boy, I read about Yukoh Tada doing the first BOC Challenge race and since then I wanted to follow in his footsteps. When he took part in the 3^rd BOC Challenge I was his apprentice, but he killed himself during the race and so I decided to take on the mantle and achieve his ambitions for him. I think today Yukoh will be happy in heaven."

"The worst moment in the race for me was when the keel went loose, I really thought my race could be over. The best one has to be today! It’s my birthday in Japan already, and starts tomorrow here."

"I was the youngest person to sail around the world non-stop on my own, and before Around Alone, I sailed my Open 40 from Japan to Newport - half way round the world - just to get to the start line, because I had no money to ship the boat, but at least I had the sailing experience! These times were all for training as Around Alone was the race. But I’m not sailing home!"

"When the other guys caught flying fish on their boats they threw them overboard, but I would fry them on both sides, prepare some rice and then put soya sauce on top! Next time I do the race, I will give every skipper a bottle of soya sauce!"

"This race was harder than I expected. I didn’t have enough money or time before the start to be properly prepared, and during the race had to keep looking for sponsors along the way. Also we had a lot of problems with the boat. Next time I do this race, I will hope to be in an Open 60..!"

"Ever since I started sailing I have always suffered from severe sea sickness, and this race was no different. But I got a secret weapon before Leg 5 start - which comes from my new sponsor SEV Marine Marine Marine nationale Max, who make natural energy products for boats - and I was not seasick at all during this leg!"

Around Alone Overall Rankings

Class 1
 1. Bobst Group - Armor Lux: 49 points / 115 days 18hrs 27m 23s
 2. Solidaires: 45 points / 118 days 13hrs 54m 1s
 3. Tiscali: 35 points / 159 days 20hrs 53m 11s
 4. Pindar: 33 points / 131 days 20hrs 45m 49s
 5. Ocean Planet: 30 points / 159 days 6hrs 41m 42s

Class 2
 1. Tommy Hilfiger Freedom America: 50 points / 148 days 17 hrs 54m 42s
 2. Everest Horizontal: 44 points / 170 days 0hrs 6m 28s

 Spirit of yukoh: 36 points / 180 days 0hrs 6m 25s

Leg 5 Rankings

Class 1
 1. Bobst Group - Armor Lux finished at 11:20:10 GMT 1^st May 03 after 17 days, 19hrs, 20m 23s
 2. Tiscali finished at 12:01:30 GMT 3^rd May 03 after 19 days, 20 hrs, 1m 30s
 3. Solidaires finished at 19:54:01 GMT 3^rd May after 20 days, 3 hrs, 54m, 1s
 4. Ocean Planet finished at 03:35:57 GMT 4^th May after 20 days 11 hours 35m 57s
 5. Pindar finished at 20:15:26 GMT 4^th May after 21 days 4hrs 15m 26s

Class 2
 1. Tommy Hilfiger Freedom America finished at 09:53:58 GMT 4^th May after 20 days, 17hrs 53m 48s
 2. Everest Horizontal finished at 15:50:47 GMT 5^th May after 21 days, 23hrs 50m 47s
 3. Spirit of yukoh finished at 16:41:41 GMT 6^th May after 24 days, 0hrs 41m 41s

POSITIONS AT 1400GMT 7^th May 2003

Class 2
 Boat Lat Lon AvgBsp AvgHeading DTF
 1. BTC Velocity 33 37.501 N, 64 28.835 W, 60.91 nm, 7.62 kt, 319 °T, 572.86 nm