Offshore Challenges go into event management

Cowes based operation now to look after OSTAR

Offshore Challenges Events (OCEvents), the event management division of the Offshore Challenges Group, are pleased to announce today that an agreement has been reached between OCEvents and the Royal Western Yacht Club, Plymouth, regarding the future organisation of the famous Single-handed TransAtlantic Race originally known as the OSTAR. OCEvents, as the new Organising Authority, has acquired all sponsorship and media rights for the 4-yearly event, commencing with the next race starting May 30, 2004.

The STAR was founded in 1960 by the Royal Western Yacht Club, and was the very first single-handed ocean race. At the time commentators said to sail across the Atlantic alone "couldn't be done". It ran from Plymouth, UK to the eastern seaboard of the USA - in 1960 to the Ambrose Light off of New York, and thereafter to Newport, Rhode Island. The race has been the starting point for just about every famous offshore sailor's racing career - including Sir Francis Chichester whose wager with Blondie Haslar kicked the idea off in the first place, Sir Chay Blyth, Clare Francis, Eric Tabarly and more recently Ellen MacArthur who won the monohull division in the last race in 2000 before going on to compete, famously, in the non-stop around the world Vendée Globe Challenge. The very first race took 40 days for the winner, yet the latest hi-tech racing machines are covering the 2900 mile (4500km) ocean racetrack in under ten.

The STAR 2004 is part of the official calendars of the world's two biggest professional ocean-going raceboat fleets. For the space-age flying machines of the ORMA 60 foot trimaran class it is one of just two solo races in their 4 year cycle of events - the other being the famous Route du Rhum . For the IMOCA Open 60 monohull fleet the STAR is the last chance to qualify, and train for the Vendée Globe race, and it is effectively the prologue to the event. Up to 50 top raceboats are expected to be in Plymouth for the week leading up to the start on May 30, 2004.

The agreement between OCEvents and the RWYC marks an important landmark for the event. Conceived by the Royal Western, it has undergone significant change in recent years as the fleet has become more professional, and the resources required to run an event of this scale, both logistically and commercially, have dramatically increased. OCEvents has an extensive skill set, a European team, and excellent knowledge and understanding of the needs of the sailors and their sponsors, their highly technical racing yachts and the media.

Mark Turner, CEO of the Offshore Challenges Group and OCEvents commented; "We are very excited about this opportunity, and very honored to be taking on the role of safeguarding the rich history of what was the first ever solo ocean race. The demands on an Organising Authority of a professional yacht race nature at this level are now significant, and we are looking forward to taking on that challenge. Time is short for the first event in May 2004, but we are taking a long term view on this investment, and look forward to providing an excellent service to the sailors, sponsors and media - as well as presenting to Plymouth what is an outstanding event with untapped potential for generating significant local opportunities".

Fred Weeks, vice Commodore of the Royal Western Yacht Club confirmed the importance of this announcement to the founders of the event, and the Club's members in particular..."We are delighted to have made this agreement with Offshore Challenges. The demands and risks placed on our Members-funded organisation have become significant. With OCEvents we have found an organisation which we believe can elevate this event to the status it deserves as well as preserve the long and rich English and French history that the race has."

A new Notice of Race will be issued to potential competitors by 30 September, 2003. A more detailed briefing on the next event will be held in Le Havre before the start of the Transat Jacques Vabre race, late October.