Fancy the Skagerrak?

Entries now open for foreign competitors in this popular Norwegian two-handed offshore test

The fourth edition of the double handed regatta Watski Skagerrak TwoStar opened for registration November 1st. Only three hours later the 150 spots for Norwegian sailors were filled up. There is still room for foreign entries.

Watski Skagerrak TwoStar is scheduled from the 13-16 June 2007 with the course stretching for nearly 300 nautical miles both along the coast and across open waters. It is a challenging test of stamina, endurance, tactical skills and sleep management – just to name a few winning factors.

This concept has drawn sailors out of bed to get a much sought after entry every year for all three latest edition. This year was no exception.

"We expected that there would be a more moderate level of interest this time around since it’s the fourth time we arrange this regatta. But the sailors just keeps on surprising us." Said Morten Jensen, editor in SEILmagasinet, the Norwegian yachting magazine who is media partner in Watski Skagerrak TwoStar.

The registration is online and just three hours after the registration opened at 07.00 Wednesday morning the 150 places where taken. This is a new record and it most definitely shows the level of interest shorthanded sailing has received after the Watski Skagerrak TwoStar was launched.

One of the keenest sailors even phoned in his entry from a storm ridden North Sea.

"The waves are topping out at 20 metres and the wind is rather fresh. It’s blowing 70 knots right now. It’s not exactly ideal sailing weather," said Eilert Kamfjord from the bridge of an oil tanker in the North Sea Wednesday morning.

He is sailing an X-332 together with Sverre Tangedal in the the race.

But even if all the 150 spots for the Norwegian sailors are taken, there is still room for foreign entries. 50 spots are reserved for non-Norwegians sailors that want to sail the double handed classic.

This fourth edition of Watski Skagerrak TwoStar starts in Hankø, Norway and takes the sailors to Arendal, Norway for a three hour pitstop before crossing Skagerrak to Marstrand, Sweden. After another three hours pitstop it’s of again back to Hankø and a completion of the nearly 300 nautical mile long marathon.

You can read more about the regatta here: http://www.seilmagasinet.no/sm_arkiv/visElement.php?ID=10478