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Pamela Lee Lying in Third Place in Round Italy 'Nastro Rosa Veloce' Race

14th November 2021
Wicklow offshore sailor Pamela Lee from Greystones Harbour in the 'Nastro Rosa Veloce' Race
Wicklow offshore sailor Pamela Lee from Greystones Harbour in the 'Nastro Rosa Veloce' Race

County Wicklow offshore sailor Pamela Lee from Greystones Harbour is lying third in the newest Italian yachting fixture, the 'Nastro Rosa Veloce', billed as the longest, non-stop race in the Mediterranean.

As Afloat previously reported, Lee is sailing with Italian Skipper Andrea Fornaro, who has raced two mini-transats and is now racing Class40s.

The Mixed double crew race started in front of San Marco Square in Venice a week ago and are now ranked third off the coast of Naples.

Ten Figaro duos have been racing since last Saturday and until Friday, November 19 on the Nastro Rosa Veloce, Tour of Italy from Venice to Genoa.

Lee and Fornano, originally known as 'Team Influence' (but now called Softway on the tracker) are racing to Genoa, non-stop (Outside Sicily).

The Italian-Irish pair hadn't met in person before the race and Fornaro hasn’t sailed the Figaro yacht before though, so invited Lee to team up a few weeks ago.

Live tracking is here

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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.