AUDIO: The Transat

1960 OSTAR competitor Val Howells, Loick Peyron and Ellen MacArthur have a chat

Val Howells was a competitor in the first OSTAR in 1960 and this clip describes how he came to take part and how the famous 'Half Crown Bet' between Hasler and Chichester was a myth. Click here (384K)

In this clip Val Howell talks to Ellen MacArthur about Blondie Hasler's tiny Folkboat Jester, being the replacement for his previous boat "like going to windward in a half tide rock..." Click here (303K)

In this one Val Howell talks about sponsorship, the nature of singlehanders and the mysterious 'fifth man' of the 1960 OSTAR Jean Lacombe. Click here (447K)

Eric Tabarly was the first real hero of the race. Val Howells gives his recollections of him and gives his views on the latest generation of boats. Click here. (414 K)

In this clip Loick Peyron talks about the 1996 OSTAR he won and gives his views on sailing 60ft trimarans and Yves Parlier's new catamaran. (1.86MB file).