Round Britain Race training session with Alex Bennett & Malcolm Dickinson

Video © Alex Bennett 2010. All Rights Reserved

Another great video from the BennettOceanRacing's Youtube Channel — 26 April 2010 —  Alex Bennett and Malcolm Dickinson onboard yacht Fujifilm training for the Shetland Round Britain and Ireland Race. Love the video, so great to see what it's really like training on board Fujifilm. Looks like a lot of fun. Keep up the good work!

RORC Rolex Fastnet Race

This Sunday, August 9th, is the start of the Rolex Fastnet. The Rolex Fastnet is the flagship race of the Royal Ocean Racing Club. The 608 nautical mile Fastnet race starts from the Royal Yacht Squadron Line in front of West Cowes, when the maximum entry of 300 boats (from 16 different countries) will set sail from the Isle of Wight, along the south coast all the way to Lizard's Point. The boats then round Lizard's Point, heading across the Celtic Sea towards the south coast of Ireland, circle the Fastnet rock just off the southwest Irish coast, and then head back to the finish at Plymouth.

There are several different classes of boats, as entries range from huge 100 footers down to 30 footers. The start is staggered over 2 hrs. One of the most exciting aspects of the Fastnet race is that the 2,500 competitors include a huge variety of different abilities and experience from amateur sailors, Olympic sailors, America's Cup sailors, Volvo Ocean Race sailors, Portimao Global Ocean Race sailors, Artemis Transat and Rolex Sydney Hobart competitors. The Fastnet race is a spectacular event for spectators as the 300 yachts head west in the Solent and will be clearly visible from shore. The best view is said to be from Hurst Castle, near Lymington.


Follow the Fastnet on Cowes Radio 87.7 FM and online www.cowesradio.co.uk

Royal Ocean Racing Club Rolex Fastnet Race website http://fastnet.rorc.org/

Big Weekend Sailing Event - OSTAR starts in Plymouth

If you are wondering what to do over the May Bank Holiday, this weekend, why not head down to Plymouth and watch the start of the OSTAR! (Original Single Handed Trans-Atlantic Race) There are approximately 36 entrants in the race, from Great Britain, France, Ireland, Netherlands, Italy, Austria and the United States. All the boats are already in Plymouth busy with last minute preparations before the start.

Want to follow the race online? All the information that you need is on the fantastic OSTAR website http://www.ostar2009.co.uk/index.php

Rather than trying to explain the history and significance of the OSTAR ourselves, we've taken the following text from the OSTAR website © The Royal Western Yacht Club of England ltd. Queen Anne's Battery Plymouth PL4 OTW

"The Original Single Handed Trans-Atlantic Race (OSTAR) is the world’s oldest solo ocean challenge, dating back to 1960. Founded by ‘cockleshell hero’ Blondie Hasler and first won by the circumnavigator Sir Francis Chichester, the race has upheld its Corinthian roots, providing aspiring professional and amateur sailors with the ultimate challenge. Val Howells remains the sole survivor of that first race. Some of the world’s greatest sailors have taken part including; Eric Tabarly, Pete Goss, Loick Peyron, Francis Joyon, Mike Golding, Michel Desjoyeaux and Ellen MacArthur. The Atlantic is the only judge and allows no room for mistakes, emphasising that the race truly is inspired by legends and sailed by heroes. The Royal Western Yacht Club is delighted to announce that the 2009 edition of the Original Singlehanded Transatlantic Race from Plymouth to Newport, Rhode Island will start on the 25th May 2009. "
© Ostar2009 RWYC.