OSTAR splits in two

Major race and format changes in Royal Western YC's offshore race calendar

OSTAR divided

The Royal Western Yacht Club, the Plymouth-based club that pioneered singlehanded offshore yacht racing with the Observer Singlehanded Transatlantic Race (OSTAR) in the early 1960s and is celebrating its 175th anniversary next year, have made some significant changes in to their famous four yearly cycle of offshore races.

Much of this is good news for the sport of singlehanded sailing but the club's Race Director John Lewis says they are merely catering to demand. "I think really we are responding to a need. A number of people are interested now that short handed racing is blossoming."

Perhaps most noteworthy is that the OSTAR, now known as the Europe 1 New Man STAR, is to be split in half with classes one and two (45-60ft) sailing the race in 2004 and classes three, four and five competing in their own event a year later.

The reason for the split is simply down to logistics explains John Lewis. The 60ft trimaran fleet is due to swell to 15-20 boats for next year's Route de Rhum and by 2004 there will also be many new Open 60s readying themselves for the Vendee Globe that autumn. "It's just no longer possible administratively to run the race with such a large fleet and such different arrival times. It will also give both races focus, like the Fastnet Race, which was revitalised after it split from the Admiral's Cup. It will give more emphasis to the small boats."

Even with this divide one can still envisage problems housing this incredible number of 60ft by 60ft trimarans and similar number of Open 60s and 50s in Queen Anne's Battery, the Plymouth marina where the club is based. For the race last year the fleet had to be divided up between marinas around Plymouth. One wonders why the club didn't go with a previous suggestion, mooted earlier this year, of splitting the monohull and multihull fleets.

Where to keep the boats is equally problematic at the finish in Newport, Rhode Island.

Many people will also bemoan the fact that one of the joys of sailing in the event was that a 30ft monohull could be racing in the same fleet as the top Grand Prix stars - in essence the event was a great leveller. However in the long run the club's decision is probably a good one.

The 2005 event Lewis says it is designed to promote a new breed of Open 40s. "I think it is a developing area. Open 40s are very fast and they fill the gap between the Minis, and the Open 50 and 60s." This will be words from heaven for leading Open 60 designers Groupe Finot. Jean-Marie Finot has been attempted to get an Open 40 one design class going for some time now.

See page two for details of their new two handed race
See page three for news of the Royal Western's plans for the Minis