This year’s OSTAR and TWOSTAR races are going ahead as planned, the Royal Western Yacht Club of England has confirmed.
Organisers say that after consultation with finishing hosts Newport Yacht Club in Rhode Island, they are “confident that we can provide a COVID-safe start and finish to the race”.
Last year’s event was postponed amid the first weeks of the coronavirus pandemic, with a new start date set for 9 May 2021.
RWYC Commodore Chris Arscott commented: “The OSTAR has been a breeding ground for some of the world’s best known and most successful sailors including Sir Francis Chichester, Eric Tabarly and Loick Peyron.
“In 2007 the race returned to its Corinthian roots and has continued to offer the stars of the future a springboard as the toughest amateur/semi-pro solo races there is. This year will be no different with what is already a strong list of entries.”
Many of these entries will use the 60th OSTAR as their qualifying passage and training for the Global Solo Challenge, a non-stop round-the-world event set for 2023.
The RWYC adds that provision has been made in the Notice of Race “to ensure that COVID does not cost our competitors financially”.
Entry is still open for the MailASail OSTAR and TWOSAR 2021 but prospective competitors are asked to contact the RWYC at [email protected] as soon as possible. A completed entry form with deposit is required to secure entry.
There is a potential delay allowance window of three weeks should this be required based on COVID restrictions. Should the race need to have an extended postponement at short notice due to COVID, then full refunds will be offered.
