Announcement of OSTAR TWOSTAR and new Plymouth Lonely Rock Race

Announcement of OSTAR TWOSTAR and new Plymouth Lonely Rock Race © Royal Western Yacht Club

The Royal Western Yacht Club is pleased to announce the new start date of 9th May 2021 for the MailASail OSTAR and TWOSTAR race. The next edition is set to be the 16th OSTAR and seventh edition of the TWOSTAR race.

With eight months to go, the Royal Western Yacht Club would like to formally invite all past competitors and as many new adventurers to enter and join us as we formally celebrate the 60th anniversary of the first race.

This is the 'original', the race which has made many of its competitors household names, the springboard to oceanic status. Francis Chichester, Eric Tabarly, Philippe Poupon, Loick Peyron, Francis Joyon, Michel Desjoyeaux, Ellen MacArthur and Mike Golding all list among the winners. Others who have taken part include Bruno Peyron, Mark Gatehouse, Frank Cammas, Mike Sanderson, Nick Moloney, Conrad Humphreys, Hannah White, Samantha Davies and Pip Hildesley (now Pip Hare) to name a few.

Finishing in the stunning setting of Newport, Rhode Island; the course remains as it was on its second edition, the first of which finished off the Ambrose Light, New York.

Entry lists are now open at rwyc.org/ostar and rwyc.org/twostar

Alternatively please send your intent to enter to ostar@rwyc.org

The Plymouth Lonely Rock Race

July 4th 2021 will see the introduction of a brand new offshore race from the Royal Western Yacht Club which will run in opposite years to the Original Lonely Rock Race. The 'Plymouth Lonely Rock Race' will start in Plymouth Sound, exit via the Western Entrance of Plymouth Sound, round the Fastnet Rock to port, pass the Isles of Scilly to port and then finish between the Breakwater Lighthouse and the navigation buoy, 'Queens Ground' in Plymouth Sound.

The challenges of this race are much the same as the Original Lonely Rock Race. Set at around 500 miles long, this is a race with four challenging segments. Starting from Plymouth, the race will not have to deal with the tidal gates at Hurst Castle, Portland and Start Point giving its competitors a chance to experience a shorter race around the Fastnet rock without potential for huge tidal gains and losses and without the logistical challenges of start and finish being in two different cities.

Entries will be open to MOCRA, IMOCA, Class40, Mini Transat, IRC, single handed, 2 handed and 1/2crew (crews cannot exceed 50% of their certified crew number).

Entry numbers are likely to be limited, so please enter at rwyc.org/lrr or send your intent to enter to lrr@rwyc.org