Double-Handed Offshore Racing Discipline to be Represented by New Organisation

7th October 2020

The new home page of the Offshore Doubles Association

A new organisation has been founded to represent the emerging discipline of doublehanded offshore racing, called the 'Offshore Doubles Association'.

The association has attracted a number of key offshore sailors and administrators including former Volvo Ocean Race chief, Knut Frostad of Norway as an advisor.

The association will launch officially on October 9th.

The association says its aim is to create a fair and robust ecosystem to build on the fastest-growing segment of offshore sailing. According to its website, 'the association is dedicated to helping our members (sailors) and partners (Events, Boats, Suppliers and Sponsors) succeed in their goals and to building the community as a whole'.

The new association quickly follows the announcement of the new Olympic Offshore Mixed Doubles Event for Paris 2024.

Proponents say the new event is an exciting development for the sport, showcasing the thrill and hardship of day and night sailing offshore with 24/7 media coverage.

The website is www.offshoredoubles.org

Published in Mixed Offshore Keelboat, Offshore

Published in Mixed Offshore Keelboat

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Mixed Two Person Offshore Keelboat

For the first time in sailing's Olympic history, a Mixed Two Person Offshore Keelboat event will be on the slate at the Paris 2024 Olympic Sailing Competition.

The Mixed Two Person Offshore Keelboat will join kiteboarding, windsurfing, multihulls, singlehanded and doublehanded dinghies and skiffs, promoting the diversity of the sport. This, in turn, will support World Sailing's desire to promote and grow universality in all disciplines and increase female participation with gender-equal medals and athletes.

Offshore sailing is the ultimate test of endurance, skill, discipline, navigation and critical decision making.

Embracing a major part of sailing in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games will enable new stars of the sport to come to the forefront.

Qualification

Offshore sailing is a universal discipline that every World Sailing Member National Authority (MNA) can participate in.

Up to 20 nations will be on the start line at Paris 2024 and sailors from every continent will be represented. To qualify for the Olympic Games, continental qualification events will be held and competition for a spot will be hotly contested.

Equipment

For qualification events, World Sailing will approve a list of one-design boats that are already regionally available and can be accessed as a charter boat. Boats will be equalised to ensure fair competition.

For Paris 2024, World Sailing's Council will select a list of different Equipment it considers to meet the key criteria by 31 December 2020 and then make a decision on the Equipment, selecting from the list, no later than 31 December 2023.

MNAs, Class Associations and Manufacturers have all been invited to propose Equipment for the list and a World Sailing Working Party will evaluate each proposal. A recommended list will be presented to Council for approval in November 2020.

This recommended Equipment list will ensure that event organisers, MNAs and the sailors have opportunities to train and compete in Equipment that is readily available and affordable within their continent and country. It will also ensure each MNA has a fair opportunity to prepare for qualification events and eventually, Paris 2024.

Format

Starting and finishing in Marseille, the Mixed Offshore event is expected to last for either three days and two nights or four days and three nights off the French coastline and whoever crosses the finish line first will be declared Olympic champion.

The race course and length will be announced in the lead up to the start so the competition can take advantage of the latest weather forecast. Current options proposed include long and short courses heading towards the West and East of France.

Safety and Security

The French Navy and Mediterranean forces have extensive experience of supporting major oceanic sailing races. They will provide safety and security at Paris 2024.