Two Star 2012

Two Star Press release

The Royal Western Yacht Club is delighted to announce the re-launch of the Two Handed Transatlantic Race. The race will start on Sunday 3 June 2012 from Plymouth and finish in Newport, Rhode Island. The race, historically known as the TWOSTAR, will be open to boats between 27 and 60ft LOA and there will also be a separate class for the now popular Class 40s.

SORC comment

The first edition of this race in 1981 saw 103 boats leave Plymouth for Newport on June 6th, it was a who’s who of the yachting super stars; Eric Tabarly, Marc Pajot, Robin Knox Johnston, Florence Arthaud, Phillipe Poupon, Patrice Carpentier, Nigel Irens, Mike Birch to name a few. The first race was won by Chay Blyth and Rob James in Brittany Ferries ( 65 ‘tri) in 14 days 14 hours, some 16 hours ahead of Marc Pajot in the 59ft. cat Elf Aquitaine.

The 2012 Two Star announcement is particularly welcome because the RWYC has re-opened class VI from 27 ft up to 30 ft and this will provide a great opportunity for young sailors in small boats to gain valuable experience in the Atlantic. There was a strong tradition of small boats competing in the big races that has been over looked in recent years, many of the best sailors cut their ocean teeth as un-known’s  in this class;  Mike Golding , Marc Guillemot ( Safran) and Michel Kleinjans for example. Young designers will jump at the chance to test their ideas, Merf Owen’s first boat was the 30 ft Maverick raced in the RBI in 1993 with a guy called Mark Turner.  Landmark designs such as Modi Khola (Rowsell and Morrison) and Alice’s Mirror (Adrian Thompson) were built to the 30 ft limit with great success.

The thirty day time limit is worth consideration for the small boats, the most recent standard time for a modern small boat was set by Lionel Regnier in his pogo 8.50 in the very windy 2005 Ostar at 25 days 23 hours 48 min singlehanded.  The solo record for a 30 footer, held by Michel Kleinjans since 1996, is 20 days 14 hours in the Figaro 1.  A good time for a heavy cruiser like the Contessa 32 would be around 30 days. The ideal weapon must be a Figaro 2 crossing in less than 20 days easily?

Class 40 promises to provide the biggest fleet in the race, with over 100 boats sculling around looking for work there will be a memorable battle to claim this first westward Transat en Double. The fifteen day barrier could be broken by skilled crews if they get a break with the weather, three Class 40’s averaged over 8 knots single handed in the recent Route du Rhum. Clashes with the Global Ocean race and Artemis Transat (solo) will hopefully not diminish the Class 40 competition.

The broad  Atlantic Race Course remains under utilised for most of the time between Ostars and the RWYC are to be congratulated for their vision to run this landmark race, a two handed wake on the pristine ocean looks very similar to a solo wake so time to start planning ? We know that late entries and minimal qualifiers almost guarantee failure in Atlantic races, AZAB makes a great qualifier in 2011 and teams from the RBI in 2010 are qualified.

Press Release continues; The race will be run in partnership with Newport Yacht Club and the club’s past Commodore, Norm Bailey, said: “All of us at the NYC are thrilled with the return of this race and we look forward to seeing old friends in Newport, the sailing capital of the world. We can promise you an experience never to be forgotten”.  Chairman Robin Wallace, commented: “The Rhode Island State Yachting Committee is delighted to hear of the plans for the Twostar returning to Newport in 2012 and looks forward to supporting the Royal Western Yacht Club of England and the Newport Yacht Club when the competitors arrive”.

The Royal Western’s Commodore, Chris Arscott, said: “The Club has a long history of organising events like this and with interest in long distance two-handed sailing on the increase, it seemed like the right time to reinstate what was a popular race over this alluring course. We are delighted to have the support of our friends in Newport and I’m looking forward working together to enable the dreams and aspirations of all those who take part.

Web Site and NOR here           http://twostar.rwyc.org/