Off-shore double handed training onboard Artemis Ocean Racing

Video © Copyright 2009 Artemis Ocean Racing Ltd.  All rights reserved.




Sam Davies and Sidney Gavignet training onboard Artemis Ocean Racing. The double-handed team are preparing for the Transat Jacques Vabre. Great onboard camera footage - Get your foul weather gear on before you watch it! You will feel what it is really like to be onboard the IMOCA as they train, speed test and night sail with BT and Safran Open 60.

More crew updates: Transat Jacques Vabre

The 1876 IMOCA Open 60 Estrella Damm will be crewed by Yves Parlier and Pachi Rivero. The TJV website had listed Guillermo Altadill as part of the double- handed crew for this boat, but it seems that this is no longer the case.


Learn more about the crew of 1876 here

Roan Star Sailing Outlet News

The UK has been subject to 2 days of national postal strikes due to an ongoing industrial dispute between Royal Mail and the Communication Workers Union.

Over the 22nd and 23rd of October we have posted a message in our eBay shop to inform buyers that we will only resume dispatch of orders once the official strike is over. We are hoping that the dispute will not result in more stikes next week. We are satisfied with the price and service of Royal Mail recorded delivery and do not wish to look for alternative courier services. These other services will result in increased delivery costs, and we do not wish to pass this on to our buyers. We work very hard to offer the best price for all of our Musto clothing. We do not wish to compromise this by adding on courier costs.

We appreciate the patience and understanding of our customers during this strike period, and we will endeavour to maintain our high standards of fast dispatch of items, once the Royal Mail service has resumed.

Mike Golding to sail with Sanso in TJV

With only a few weeks to go before the race begins, Mike Golding announced on his website yesterday, that he will be sailing in the Transat Jacques Vabre with Javier Sansó of Spain. They still have to complete the qualification for the race.

Read more about Mike Golding and Javier Sanso

Transat Jacques Vabre 2009 Race

Image © Costa Rica Découverte. All Rights Reserved


November the 8th marks the start of the 2009 Transat Jacques Vabre. The race takes place every 2 years, since it started in 1993, and was originally designed to follow the traditional trade route of the clippers transporting coffee from Brazil to France. The TJV will be setting off again from Le Havre in the north of France, but this time, is offering the double handed crews a new destination: Puerto Limon in Costa Rica.


There will be two courses, one for the monohulls (Open 60s and Class 40 yachts), and one for the Multihulls (ORMA 60 and Open 50s) The course will represent 4,730 miles for the monohulls and 5,050 for the multihulls. The new course will take the crews across the Caribbean Sea with just one single requirement: for monohulls to leave the Dominican Republic to starboard and for the multihulls to leave the island of Barbados to starboard.

Apart from the fact that this race is the highlight of the IMOCA race calendar, one of the most exciting elements, from a spectator’s point of view, is watching such huge names in the world of ocean racing competing against each other. We are particularly interested in following the Monohull Teams, as there are several British yachtsmen and women involved: Dee Caffari, Samantha Davies, Alex Thomson, Brain Thompson, Ross Daniel,  & Mike Golding. At the Roan Star Sailing Outlet, we are big fans of the IMOCA races. We try to follow as many as possible, and we have come to know many of the European sailors such as Michel Desjoyeaux, Jeremie Beyou, Sebastien Josse, Kito De Pavant,  Roland Jourdain & Guillermo Altadill from following the Istanbul Europa Race, the Rolex Fastnet Race, the Artemis Transat and the Vendee Globe.

List of entered IMOCAs:


Guillermo Altadill (Spain) & Pachi Rivero (Spain) Boat: 1876


Arnaud Boissières (French) & Vincent Riou (French) Boat: Akena Verandas


Samantha Davies (British) & Sidney Gavignet (French) Boat: Artemis Ocean Racing


 Dee Caffari (British) & Brian Thompson (British) Boat: Aviva 


Armel Le Cléac'h (French)  & Nicolas Troussel (French) Boat: Brit Air


 Sébastien Josse (French) & Jean François Cuzon (French) Boat: BT


 Marc Thiercelin (French) & Christopher Pratt (French) Boat: DCNS


Michel Desjoyeaux (French) & Jérémie Beyou (French) Boat: Foncia


Kito de Pavant (French) & François Gabart (French) Boat: Groupe Bel


 Alex Thomson (British) & Ross Daniel (British)Boat: Hugo Boss


Mike Golding (British) Other crew member unknown Boat: Mike Golding Yacht Racing


Marc Guillemot (French) & Charles Caudrelier Benac (French) Boat: Safran


Roland Jourdain (French) & Jean Luc Nélias (French) Boat: Veolia Evironnement


Alex Pella (Spanish) & Pepe Ribes (Spanish) Boat: W Hotels


Transat Jaques Vabre Race We will follow the race on the official website and check Twitter and YouTube for updates. Several of the sailors are on Twitter, and we are hoping that there will be lots of coverage online, as several of the IMOCAs have had onboard cameras during other races this year.

It should be a very exciting race!

New MUSTO Lite Jacket Gore-Tex Breathable Waterproof Available Now

Just arrived at the Roan Star Sailing Outlet, we have the MUSTO Lite jacket.

Superb all-round versatile jacket from MUSTO. Ultra lightweight Gore-Tex® Paclite 2 layer jacket with a zip off peaked hood. Fully waterproof and breathable.

Featuring the lightest fabrics, Gore-Tex® Paclite Shells are extremely breathable and are ideal when weight and space are critical.

Technical Specification:

• GORE-TEX® Paclite® Shell

• Waterproof zips

• Two front lower pockets

• Adjustable rubber cuff tabs

• Roll away zip off hood. Peaked and adjustable.

• Internal MP3 pocket

• Reflective branding

• Adjustable elasticated shock cord running through hem

We have 4 sizes available, Medium, Large, XL and XXL.

Retail price is £180, and we are offering a huge £50 discount.
Buy them at the Roan Star Sailing Outlet for just £129!
Free UK delivery Included. International Shipping Avialable.


Check out our latest offers on Musto Jackets

New MUSTO Waterproof Snug Blouson Jacket available now

At the Roan Star Sailing Outlet we now have waterproof snug jackets available. We have the classic Musto Waterproof Polartec Snug Blouson available in two sizes. It has an ocean blue breathable, waterproof and windproof outer shell, and is fully lined for extra warmth with silver grey coloured Polartec fleece. The retail price for this style of jacket is £125, and we are selling it for the bargain price of £94.

This classic Musto jacket features:

• Waterproof, breathable, windproof, insulating
• Peached polyester shell with DWR water repellent finish
• Hydrophilic "Breatheable Waterproof" coating
• Taped seams
• Polartec® Classic fleece body lining
• Single sided fleece sleeve lining
• High fleece lined collar with silver reflective band
• Zip / chin guard
• Two external fleece lined zipped pockets
• Inner zipped security pocket
• Self fabric semi-elasticated cuffs
• with velcro tab adjustment
• Back neck external hanging tag
• Machine washable

MUSTO Waterproof Polartec Snug Blouson

New MUSTO Waterproof Snug Training Jacket Available Now

We have new MUSTO Waterproof Breathable Snug Training Jackets available at the Roan Star Sailing Outlet now. This style of MUSTO jacket has a chocolate brown breathable, waterproof and windproof outer shell, and is fully lined for extra warmth with fleece. We have 2 sizes available.

The jacket features:
• Waterproof, windproof, breathable
• Outer shell of Polyester microfibre with breathable waterproof coating
• Outer shell has DWR finish and taped seams.
• Polyester fleece lining, reversed in sleeve.
• Reflective silver panel around back collar
• Zip/chin guard.
• Windproof showerproof zips.
• Semi-elasticated self fabric cuffs.
• Elasticated self fabric hem with additional gripper elastic.
• Handwarmer pockets and inner security pocket.
• Machine washable.

MUSTO Waterproof Snug Training Jacket

TP52 World Championship

Between October 6th - October 11th, the Real Club Nautico de Palma will host the 2009 TP52 World Championship.

The TP52 Class has been described as the Grand-Prix class of the global sailing circuit because the 52' yachts are extremely fast. As described on the Transpac52 website:

"TP52’s are flat out racing platforms, fully crewed, high performance monohulls capable of racing in both buoy regattas and offshore races. The 2800 pound weight limit provides for approximately 14 crew members with the flexibility to bring along a guest or a sponsor in the back of the boat and out of harms way. TP52’s race in true time, the first boat across the finish line wins. TP52’s are designed to be raced by both amateur and professional sailors alike. TP52’s elected not to use water ballast, canting keels, running back stays; preferring to keep it simple, safe & reliable. There is no time credit to build a slow TP52. They can easily exceed 25 knots off the wind with the record being 32 knots in a race set by 4 TP52’s racing down the California coast in 2003. Upwind, they are very stiff and fast as approximately 60% of the weight of the boat is in the metal fin & lead bulb."  Quote ©Transpac52
In this year's Transpac 52 Worlds there will be 10 crews competing for the world title, including Quantum Racing (USA) who will be defending their title. There will be two new entries to the TP52 class, France's Paprec Recyclage and Great Britain's Henri Lloyd Weapon of Choice.

The other eight crews are regular competitors on the Audi MedCup Circuit 
The Ten Crews competing will be:

Quantum Racing (USA), Bribón (ESP), Matador (ARG), Cristabella (GBR), Artemis (SWE), Audi TP52 powered by Q8 (ITA), Valars III (RUS), Paprec Recyclage (FRA), Henri Lloyd-Weapon of Choice (GBR), Synergy (RUS)

The World Championship will follow a similar schedule to a typical Audi MedCup event with a practice race on Tuesday, a coastal race on Friday and a series of windward-leeward races Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday.

                            

                             Image © Transpac52

Tom McNally's World Record Attempt

We recently read about Tom McNally’s attempt to regain the World Record for the smallest craft to cross the Atlantic. This year, Tom McNally will embark on a double Atlantic crossing in his 3 foot, 10 inch boat, the Big C. Tom is aiming to create a new World Record and to raise money for the cancer charity, Sail 4 Cancer.
Tom will set off from Cadiz in Southern Spain and sail to across to Central America, up to Texas, and then Newfoundland before returning to his home town of Liverpool, England. The journey is estimated to last between 15-18 months, and will amount to a total of approximately 10,000 miles. Just imagine having to sleep whilst standing up for so many months!

Tom has crossed the Atlantic many times, and in early '93 he set a new world record for the smallest craft to cross the Atlantic, in a boat 5 feet 4 1/2 inches. The previous record holder, Hugo Vihlen, subsequently recrossed the Atlantic later that year, in a boat which was just half an inch smaller, and regained the record. Now Tom wishes to beat that record in the tiniest yacht possible: 3 foot 10 inches! Good Luck Tom!
 
 

Copyright © Tom McNally

Follow Tom on his website  http://tom-mcnally.co.uk/

http://www.sail4cancer.org/  Read more about the Sail4Cancer charity

Update on International Shipping

We are very pleased to announce that we have just updated our International Delivery options at the Roan Star Sailing Outlet. This is due to an upgrade of eBay's postage and packing options on the eBay UK website. We have now been able to include all of the following European countries to our listings: Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, Portugal, Republic of Ireland, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland. We also ship to the USA and Canada. This is a big improvement on the list of 5 countries that eBay had provided before the change.

We offer very competitive shipping prices, and full insurance and online tracking with all orders.

Geoff Holt: Atlantic Challenge & Disability Sports Ambassador

We recently saw Geoff Holt on the BBC news talking about his plans to sail across the Atlantic this year. Geoff is planning on sailing the 3,000 mile journey in December, and aims to become the first quadriplegic sailor to cross the Atlantic unassisted. It will not be the first time that Geoff has sailed across the Atlantic, but it will be his first transatlantic crossing since he became disabled in 1984. Geoff has already sailed single handed around Great Britain, in 2007.

Geoff will be sailing the Atlantic on "Impossible Dream", a beautiful wheelchair accessible yacht owned by the charity Sporting Activities for the Disabled. The boat has push-button technology allowing Geoff to navigate and sail the boat. Because Geoff is confined to a wheel chair, he will have a professional carer with him on his trip. The carer will not be involved with any aspect of sailing the yacht.

We wish Geoff all the very best for his Atlantic Challenge!

Follow Geoff on Twitter @WetWheels -  http://twitter.com/WetWheels

Read his personal blog: http://www.geoffholt.com/blog/2

The Clipper 09-10 Round the World Yacht Race

In 1969 Sir Robin Knox-Johnston was the first man ever to sail solo and non-stop around the world. In 1995 Sir Robin set up Clipper Ventures. Based in Royal Clarence Marina, in Gosport, Clipper Ventures is an international marine events company. Clipper Ventures also operates a world-class training division, Clipper Training, which provides yachts, equipment, qualified skippers and intensive training for novice yachtsmen. Clipper Ventures has successfully organised 6 round the world yacht races for non-professional sailors, and also runs the Velux 5 Oceans solo round the world yacht race.

Clipper Ventures is best known for organising the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race, which was first run in 1996. The Clipper 09-10 Round the World Yacht Race will start this Sunday, the 13th of September 2009, on the Humber in the North East of England. There will be a fleet of 10 stripped down identical 68-foot yachts that will race each other over 35,000 miles on a full circumnavigation of the world. The teams will stop at 14 different ports along the way including Hull & Humber, La Rochelle, Rio de Janeiro, South Africa, Western Australia, Singapore, Qingdao, California, Panama, Caribbean, New York, Cape Breton Island & Cork

Sir Robin founded the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race so that more people can experience the challenge of ocean racing. As it says on the Clipper website: “This is the only opportunity for people from all walks of life to compete in a round the world yacht race”.

The race is open to anyone who feels they are up for the challenge and willing to pay the sign-up fee, regardless of whether or not they have previous sailing experience. Crew can either sign up for the whole race, or one or more legs. The fact that crew members can choose the stages that they are competing in offers much more flexibility for competitors who might want to take part, but can’t necessarily take 10 months off work. This latest edition, the Clipper 2009-2010 race is completely sold out and it is advised to sign-up early for future races in order to secure your place.Clipper is already recruiting crew for Clipper 2011-2012 which, at 40,000 miles, will be the longest round the world yacht race.

There are 10 teams taking part in the race this year, totalling approximately 400 crew members over the entire race. Each team is sponsored by an international city, region or country, and this year the teams are: Edinburgh Inspiring Capital, Hull & Humber, Uniquely Singapore, Qingdao, Jamaica Lightning Bolt, Cape Breton Island, Cork, Team Finland, California and Spirit of Australia.

The teams are expected to return in July 2010.

Great Sailing Bargain MUSTO MPX Gore-Tex OffShore Race Jacket Save 20% off Retail Price

This brand new size XL Musto MPX Offshore Race jacket is now on sale at the Roan Star Sailing Outlet for just £260. Save 20% off the full retail price ( Usual selling price in shops ranges between £325-£355) and get free UK delivery. We can't find a better deal than this anywhere online, so grab this great bargain fast. International shipping available.

The Charente-Maritime / Bahia Transat 6.50

Created by Bob Salmon, in 1977, the 17th edition of The Charente-Maritime/Bahia Transat 6.50 will start next week, on Sunday the 13th of September 2009. Originally called the Mini-Transat, the race will start off the coast of the Charente-Maritime (France) and go to Funchal (Madeira / Portugal) and finish across the Atlantic in Salvador de Bahia (Brazil)
This year’s Charente Maritime / Bahia Transat 6.50 race has 84 skippers representing 12 different nationalities. The race is open to amateur and professional sailors, provided that they qualify. Many world famous sailors have competed in this event on previous years including Ellen Mc Arthur, Isabelle Autissier, Catherine Chabaud, Yves Parlier, Jean-Luc Van Den Heede, Michel Desjoyaux, Loïck and Bruno Peyron, Yvan and Laurent Bourgnon, Roland Jourdain, Sébastien Josse, Thomas Coville, Lionel Lemonchois, Halvard Mabire. This 17th edition will bring together American, Australian, English, Spanish, Italian, Swiss, South African, French, German, Portuguese, Norwegian and Brazilian competitors.

The Transat 6.50 has very strict entry requirements for the boat and the skipper. The competitor and the boat must have a sailing "history" acquired in races and sailing qualifications. This is to ensure that the competitor has a chance to meet the challenge of this long and completely solo race. The 6.50 Series and Prototype boats will be sailed 4,200 miles (7800 km) single-handed without any assistance (7800 km) The first 1,100 nautical miles are between Charente Maritime, France and Funchal, Madeira and then the next 3,100 nautical miles are between Madeira and Salvador de Bahia in Brazil corresponding to 4,200 nm. This is the same course as the 2007 edition of the race.

Below are the rules regarding entry requirements:

The races' rules:

"The boats that will participate to The Charente-Maritime/Bahia Transat 6.50 have to be completely self sufficient. The skippers cannot rely on anyone during the race but themselves. They have to be able to face every kind of situation on their own and be able to join a port if necessary without any external help. There are two categories on the race: prototypes and series boats. These categories determine two rankings. No routing is accepted and each participant has to sign a statement of intent that undertaking them to respect this rule. The navigation electronics or computing assistants are forbidden on board. Also, no supplying or physical contacts with another boat are accepted during the race. Any kind of radio assistance apart from medical assistance is allowed.

-Qualifications:

The Charente-Maritime/Bahia Transat 6.50 qualification process was created in 1999 when half of the fleet had to abandon. The aim is simple and clear: permit to the candidate/sailor to consider their true technical skills and psychological capacities to sail solo. So, to be qualified, the couple skipper/boat has to sail 2.000 miles, including 1.000 miles racing and 1.000 miles training. If the sailor already sailed 2.000 miles, he has to participate to at least one race of the qualifying calendar. The skippers that already participated to The Charente-Maritime/Bahia Transat 6.50 on the same boat are exempted from the 1000 miles training. But they have to participate to, at least, one of the qualification race of the 2009 Mini calendar."

Rules & Qualification criteria taken directly from the Charente-Maritime / Bahia Transat 6.50 website : http://www.transat650.org/en/  © Grand Pavois Organisation

There are three British sailors in this year’s Transat: Oliver Bond, Keith Willis and Andrew Bond. We wish them all the very best of luck and hope for their safe and speedy arrival in Salvador de Bahia (Brazil) on Thursday the 20th of October, the estimated finish day.

Follow the Transat 6.50 here

Musto Caribbean Sailing Jacket - now only £55

BIG Savings on Musto Sailing Jackets at the Roan Star Sailing Outlet.

We've just knocked down the price of our popular Musto Caribbean jackets.

Our new MUSTO © Sailing Waterproof Caribbean Jacket is very useful waterproof jacket suitable for any time of year. This jacket features: Lightweight, Waterproof and Breathable Tough durable ripstop fabric. Mesh lining. Taped seams. Roll-away peaked hood. Two way front zip. Adjustable cuffs. Two external zipped pockets, internal security pocket. Scooped back hem with elasticated drawcord. Reflective Musto logo on collar. Available in Large or XL, Colour: Red
Now available for £55.  Free UK delivery.

See our eBay shop for further delivery information. International shipping available.

We have also reduced the price of the MUSTO © Windward Jacket - Now only £79.  Navy Blue, size XL only. This is a warm fleece lined, breathable and waterproof jacket from Musto.

Technical Specification: Lightweight ripstop polyester shell - Waterproof, Windproof, Breathable Hydrophilic Coating. Microfleece lining. Taped seams. Roll-away peaked hood. Two way front zip
Adjustable cuffs. Two external zipped pockets, internal security pocket. Scooped back hem with elasticated drawcord

The MUSTO © Leeward Jackets are also reduced in price, and are now £59. We have this jacket available in Black. This lightweight Jacket Features: Fully waterproof outer, made from a tough durable ripstock fabric. Fully taped seams. Mesh lining. Rollaway peaked hood. 2 external zipped pockets. Internal security pocket. Scooped back hem with elasticated drawcord.

If you require further shipping information, garment measurements or product details please contact us through eBay messages. We are happy to assist.

Hilary Lister becomes the 1st disabled woman to sail solo around Britain!

Huge Congratulations to Hilary Lister, who sailed in to the history books today!
Hilary has just completed her epic challenge to sail solo around Britain. Hilary Lister made history in 2005 by becoming the first ever quadriplegic to sail solo across the English Channel. Now, in 2009, Hilary has become the first disabled woman to sail solo around Britain. We have been following Hilary's progress on Twitter, on her blog, and on her occasional appearance on the BBC's One Show.  We love her determination and passion for sailing. Congratulations on making your Round Britain Dream a reality, Hilary. It's absolutely fantastic!

Visit Hilary's website

Congratulations Mike!

At the Roan Star Sailing Outlet, we have been avidly following the progress of Mike Perham in his attempt to become the youngest person to sail solo around the world.  He has been blogging and tweeting of his experiences and even uploading videos to YouTube from onboard his boat, TotallyMoney.
Yesterday, on August 27th 2009, Mike broke the world record when he crossed the finish line between Lizard Point and Ushant in France at 0947 BST, aged 17 years and 164 days. He beats American teenager Zac Sunderland's previous record by 2 months.

Sailing solo around the world is a truly fantastic achievement for any sailor, at any age! To create a new World Record is incredible. Congratulations Mike! You are a real British Sailing Hero.

Mike's new record is not to be confused with Jesse Martin's record for sailing solo and non-stop.The youngest person to circumnavigate the globe, sailing solo, non-stop and unsupported is still Jesse Martin, of Australia. He sailed in Lionheart from Melbourne, Australia, on 8 December 1998 aged 18 years 104 days and returned on October 31 1999, taking 327 days 12hrs 52 mins. This record for the youngest person to sail solo, non-stop and unsupported still stands in the Guinness Book of World Records.

Mike Perham arrives back on mainland Britain tomorrow morning. Get down to Gunwharf Quay in Portsmouth on Saturday at 1100 to see Mike dock his boat and take part in the celebrations!

Great Result for British Sailors in the Archipelago Raid 2009

The 2009 Archipelago Raid was won by Swedish Team Thule (Martin Strandberg & Johan Örtendahl)
Team Thule managed to beat last year's winners Team Citus (Eric Proust & Romain Motteau) on the final day of the Raid in order to take victory.
The Archipelago Raid finished with 3 All British teams in the Top 10.
Team Audio Network (William Sunnucks & Simon Farren) took 3rd place overall!
Archipelago Raid Rookies Team Cobalt (Luke Yeates & Matt Humphreys) were 8th and Team Blue (Conrad Humphreys & Ryan Crawford) were 9th overall.
Other British sailors included Alister Richardson of Team RockStaRR who finished in 11th. Claire Bailey of Team Tacktick SUUNTO who finished in 17th, and Jason Field of Team Piano who finished in 20th place overall. A fantastic result  for all of our British sailors competing in the Raid.
Congratulations Everyone!

After battling strong winds, capsizing, hitting rocks, and the extreme physical challenge of the intense race, this Raid was gripping to follow. To get a better idea of the Raid, and everything that the competitors have to endure in order to finish then click on the link below to watch a video from this year's Raid.

Archipelago Raid Video

ISTANBUL EUROPA RACE

Race Map ©Olay Nautic. All Rights Reserved.

The Istanbul Europa Race will start on August 28, from the host city, Istanbul. This will be the biggest sail race of Europe. The IMOCA Open 60 boats ( 60ft long /18 meters) will be crewed by a team of 4 and some of the world's most accomplished yacht skippers. The Istanbul Europa Race is a brand new race event!
It is broken in to several stages across Europe:
Stage 1 : (Istanbul, Turkey - Nice, Southern France) Distance: 1,450 nm
« Bosphorus Trophy » Friday, August 28, 2009
• Start : Saturday, August 29, 2009
• Finish : Saturday, September 05, 2009

The race will begin in Istanbul, the start signal to be given from the world famous Topkapi Palace which overlooks the Bosphorus. The first stage will finish on September 5th in Nice, France.

Stage 2 : ( Nice, Southern France - Barcelona, Spain)Distance: 520 nm
« Nice Trophy » Monday, September 07, 2009
• Start : Tuesday, September 08, 2009
• Finish : Thursday, September 10, 2009

Inshore race will be held on September 7th in Nice and the start signal of the second stage will be given on September 8th.

Stage 3 : ( Barcelona, Spain - Brest, Northern France)Distance:1900 nm
« Barcelona trophy » Saturday, September 12, 2009
• Start : Monday, September 14, 2009
• Finish : Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Following the inshore race on September 12th , the start signal will be given from Barcelona for the longest stage on September 14th. It will last for 9 days and finish will be on September 23rd, in Brest, France.

After the Brest inshore race on September 26th, « Brest Trophy » Saturday, September 26, 2009, the winner of ISTANBUL EUROPA RACE will be declared.


What makes this race even more enthralling is the sailing pedigree of the skippers involved. We have listed the sailing achievements of three of the team's skippers ( see below) and as you can see it makes awesome reading. The sheer number of nautical miles covered is incredible, let alone the success that these brilliant sailors have achieved. Michael Desjoyeaux, Jean-Pierre Dick, and Roland Jourdain are three of France's all time greats. They will be pitted against eachother in an amazing race that will take them a large way around the mainland of the European continent. It will be a fierce competition! And it will be the very first race of its kind where the yachtsmen will sail along the Mediterranean, Atlantic and English Channel coasts.

Roland Jourdain on the CanYouSee.com website says:

“The course is extremely interesting and far from simple; and to top it all off, I have never been to Istanbul,” says Roland Jourdain. “I’m really pleased that this tour is finally taking place. The fact of racing it with a crew means that we will be able to push our boats to their full potential at all times. So, it will be possible to compare the potential of our respective yachts. It is also the type of race that will hold lots of surprises. Between the Mediterranean and its changes between light and heavy winds… squeezing past Gibraltar, between cargo ships and the nets to avoid along the coast, sailing on the wind up the Atlantic that is often so painful… The course is well-rounded and will not be short on excitement, that’s for sure!” © 2008 Veolia Environnement

Unless you look at these skippers in detail it is hard to appreciate their incredible sailing pedigree. They truly are France's sailing heroes.

Watching this race to see who will be triumphant will be fascinating, we can't wait!

Below we have the sailing achievements of just three of the skippers:

Team Foncia, Skipper: Michel Desjoyeaux

2009: Winner of the Vendee Globe 2008/09 (Foncia)
Bol d'Or Mirabaud 2009: 1st on the D35 FONCIA with Alain Gautier
2008 :Record of the 5th SNSM (Foncia)
Abandoned on the Artemis Transat (Foncia)
2007: 3rd in the Transat Ecover B to B (Foncia)
Winner of the Transat Jacques Vabre 2007 (Foncia)
Winner de la Solitaire Le Figaro Afflelou 2007 (Foncia)
Winner of Record SNSM (Foncia)
2006:4th in the Route du Rhum 2006
2nd of 60 MultiCup
3rd Grand Prix Fécamp
3rd Grand Prix Portimao
2nd Grand Prix de Marseille
2nd Grand Prix Trapani
2nd Trophée du Conseil Général des Alpes Maritimes
3rd London-Alpes Maritimes
2005:3rd in the Transat Jacques Vabre (with Hugues Destremau)
2nd La Solitaire Afflelou Le Figaro
4th Grand Prix de Corse
3rd Grand Prix de Marseille Métropole
3rd Grand Prix de Galicia
2004:Winner of The Transat
2nd ORMA Championship
3rd of Québec - Saint Malo
4th Grand Prix de Marseille
6th Grand Prix de Corse
4th Grand Prix Fécamp
2003 :2nd ORMA Championship
2nd Grand Prix Cap L'Orient
4th Grand Prix of Italy - Cagliari
3rd Grand Prix de Marseille Métropole
3rd Grand Prix du Port Fécamp

4th in the Challenge Mondial Assistance (Cherbourg-Rimini)
4th in the Transat Jacques Vabre (Le Havre - Salvador de Bahia) with Hervé Jan
2002:Winner of the Route du Rhum multihull aboard Giant in 13 days 7 hours 53 minutes
2001:Winner of the Vendée Globe on board the monohull 60 'PRB in 93 days 3 hours 57 minutes
Co-author of "L'enfant de la Vallée des Fous" (Ed. Gallimard)
Sailor of the Year FFVoile
1998:Transat AG2R on Groupama with Franck Cammas (winner of the first stage)
Winner de la Solitaire du Figaro on TBS, the Solo Porquerolles Mediterranean, the Dunes de Flandre Solo, the Solo CGMer Port-la-Vie
Champion de France Solitaire Living
1997:Vice-Champion of France Solitaire Living
1996:4th in the Transat AG2R with Roland Jourdain
2nd of the Solitaire du Figaro on TBS
Champion de France Solitaire Living on TBS
1995:Skipper Figaro Solo GER: winner of a stage of the Solitaire du Figaro

Vice-Champion of France in crew
1994:Winner of the Trophy on Fujicolor Multihulls
Test pilot on the Hydroptère
1993:Season aboard the Maxi Yacht La Poste. Shift manager for Whitbread
1992:Winner de la Solitaire du Figaro
Winner of the Transat AG2R (Lorient - Saint-Barthélemy) with Jacques Caraes - Figaro
Winner of National Figaro Solo
1991:Winner of the second stage of the Transat 6.50
2nd of the Solitaire du Figaro
1990:Winner of Twostar (double deck) aboard Elf Aquitaine III skippered by Jean Maurel
4th of the Solitaire du Figaro (1st rookie)
1989:Tactician on board Cantreau Biscuits, 40-foot trimaran: Wins the Grand Prix of Porto Fino (Italy) and Morges (Switzerland)
Winner of the selection Skipper Elf Aquitaine
1987:Tactician on board CDK Competition, 40-foot trimaran, skippered by Roland Jourdain: 3rd in World Championship of Formula 40
1985-1986:Tour de France à la Voile, 3 stage wins
Crew on Côte d'Or, maxi-monohull skippered by Eric Tabarly for Whitbread
Crédit Agricole on Equipier II maxi-catamaran skippered by Philippe Jeantot: Winner of Race of Europe

Copyright ©GROUPE FONCIA All Rights Reserved. Information taken from http://www.teamfoncia.com/

Team Paprec-Vibrac, Skipper: Jean-Pierre Dick
2007-08
Winner of the Barcelona World Race
2006
3rd of Route du Rhum
Season Figaro: Transat AG2R, Solo Méditerrannée, Solitaire du Figaro
2005
6th Vendée Globe
3rd in the Calais Round Britain Race
SNSM Trophy winner in 60-foot monohull
2nd in the Fastnet Race monohull in 60 feet
Winner of the Transat Jacques Vabre
Winner of the National 7.50 in La Trinité / Mer
2004
3rd 1000 Milles de Calais
The Transat: abandonment of 360 °
7 November: departure of the Vendée Globe
2003
Winner of the Transat Jacques Vabre
Atlantic Challenge: dismasting then back in gear fortune (40 days at sea instead of 20!)
2002
2nd Grand Prix Larmor
3rd Grand Prix Marseille
1st Giraglia Rollers cup in 60 feet open
2001
Winner Tour de France à la Voile
Also: -six successes in the Spi Ouest France (89, 92, 94, 95, 2001, 2002). -

eight national titles in First class 8, JOD 24 and 35, J24, Melges 24,

participation in the Admiral's Cup 1991.
Copyright ©2006 Défi Voile Sud – All Rights Reserved. Information taken from http://www.jpdick.com/

Team Veolia, Skipper: Roland Jourdain

2006 - Route du Rhum 2006: 1st

2005 - Calais Round Britain Race: 1st

2003 - Route of the New World: 1st

2002 - Grand Prix de Quiberon and Marseille: 1st

2002 - Regata Rubicon: 1st

2002 - World Champion IMOCA

2001 - World Champion IMOCA

2001 - Transat Jacques Vabre with Gaël Le Cléac'h: 1st

2000 - World Champion IMOCA

1995 - Transat Jacques Vabre on Région Haute Normandie with Paul Vatine: 1st

1994 - Transat AG2R: 1st with Jean Le Cam

1993 - Course de l'Europe on Fujicolor: 1st

1991 - Course de l'Europe sur RMO : 1st

1989 - European Champion and World Formula 40

Copyright © 2008 Veolia Environnement. Information taken from http://www.canyousea.com/index.aspx

Follow the action on the Istanbul Europa Race official website http://www.istanbuleuroparace.com/en/index.asp

They already have photos of the yachts in the Marina Attakoy in Istanbul awaiting the start!

New MUSTO Waterproof Caribbean Jacket Available Now

MUSTO ® PERFORMANCE

WATERPROOF BREATHABLE CARIBBEAN JACKET

Colour: Red
RRP £90

Available in Large or XL

A very useful waterproof jacket suitable for any time of year .
This Jacket Features:
Lightweight, Waterproof and Breathable
Tough durable ripstop fabric
Mesh lining
Taped seams
Roll-away peaked hood
Two way front zip
Adjustable cuffs
Two external zipped pockets, internal security pocket
Scooped back hem with elasticated drawcord
Reflective Musto logo on collar

Available now at the Roan Star Sailing Outlet for just £59.

Grab one of these very popular jackets while you can. Click below to visit our shop:

http://stores.shop.ebay.co.uk/Roan-Star-Sailing-Outlet

The Archipelago Raid 2009 - Europe's Premiere Adventure Sailing Raid

The 9th edition of Archipelago Raid will take place in the Stockholm, Åland and Finnish archipelagos from 17 to 22 August 2009

This exciting five day event is the pinnacle of European adventure sailing. Teams of two sailors sail on small Formula 18 (5.5m) catamarans, day and night, through a 400 mile course of 20-25 checkpoints through the 100,000 islands of the Stockholm, Åland and Finnish archipelago.
The teams are orienteering around the 100,000 islands and sailing 2 legs per day. Only at the end of the first leg are the teams then given the co-ordinates of the second leg. Each leg has 4 or 5 checkpoints along the way presenting each team with choosing their best possible route each time. The race is a true test of navigation skills, team work and endurance.

It's an incredibly gruelling and physically demanding race, with teams sailing 14-16 hours a day and only sleeping 2-5 hours. The small F18s are also very volatile and require a lot of physical effort to sail.

We want to wish all competitors the very best of luck for this amazing race.

We will be following the progress of Team Blue: British Sailors Conrad Humphreys and Ryan Crawford. http://www.conradhumphreys.com/racing/index.html

Follow Conrad Humphreys on Twitter http://twitter.com/conradhumphreys

Follow the race on the Archipelago Raid 2009 website http://www.archipelagoraid.com/

Toe In The Water

We have been following the races and events of Cowes Week with great interest. One of the most inspiring charities that we have learnt about is Toe In The Water. Toe in the Water was founded in 2008 by Holly King ( Army physiotherapist and sailor) & Tanya Brookfield (MD of a yacht-racing company) The charity teaches wounded servicemen to perform roles on the boat where they are not impeded by their injuries. They are teamed with able-bodied, experienced sailors and compete in sailing events around the British Isles.

We have taken the following sections of text directly from the Toe In The Water website. The website explains the aims of the charity and the sailing experiences of the servicemen involved with the Toe In The Water better than we ever could.

"The tri-service initiative TOE IN THE WATER (TITW) aims to inspire the men and women who have sustained often traumatic injuries, including the loss of limbs, to move beyond their disability and to become re-inspired by life. Competitive sailing is a physically and mentally challenging adventurous sport and provides a unique opportunity for injured men and women to sail and race on equal terms with their able-bodied contemporaries." © Toe In The Water


"TOE IN THE WATER CELEBRATES FIRST BIRTHDAY WITH A BULLET IN THE J80 CLASS 3RD AUGUST 2009


Ten injured service personnel are once again taking part in the world famous Cowes Week regatta racing under the banner of Toe in the Water.
Just twelve months on from their first outing at Cowes Week 2008, the charity that re-inspires injured servicemen through competitive sailing, the crew of Toe in the Water’s J80 Toe in the Water Too, led by Adrian Stell and Lt Commander Giles Bradford took the fleet by storm in spite of slow start and crossed the finish line in an impressive first place, more than a minute ahead of their closest rivals. For Lt Kirsty Archibald, Royal Navy, who broke her back in 2007, today’s result is extra special as it’s only her second outing on a yacht.
“The experience has been absolutely fantastic, though completely exhausting! Coming fourth on my first day’s racing was great but to finish first today is just awesome.” Commented Kirsty.
Toe in the Water Racing Manager, Lloyd Hamilton said: “The J80s are great boats for the injured guys to sail on and ensure they can get fully involved. They are fast, responsive and dynamic and because they are that bit smaller, they’re closer to the water and really feel the speed and exhilaration of racing in a competitive class of twenty yachts.”
Toe in the Water have also been loaned the Army’s A40RC race boat, racing as Toe – British Soldier in IRC Class 2, with world record breaking Vendée Globe skipper Brian Thompson at the helm. “The Toe in the Water programme is dynamic, energetic and making its mark on sailing regattas all over the UK. It has brought fun and competition to both the injured servicemen/women, and the volunteers drawn from both the military and civilian sailing communities.” Said Brian.
“I continue to be humbled by the guys and am really proud to be sailing with them this Cowes Week. I think our results are already surprising quite a few of the professional crews in our 45 boat fleet and it’s shaping up to be a very competitive event with us snapping at the heels of the top boats in the class.”
Toe in the Water specifically sets out to re-inspire injured servicemen and women to see beyond their injuries and is a direct extension of their rehabilitation programmes at the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre, (DMRC) Headley Court. The ten who will sail with the charity during the regatta have a wide range of injuries ranging from broken backs to gunshot wounds and yet will line up with and against able-bodied teams, even though many of them have never sailed before. The competitive environment in the matched class provides a disciplined team setting with a shared focus which directly aids their rehabilitation. Toe in the Water relies on voluntary contributions and the generosity of many organisations that offer their support. Toe in the Water Director Tanya Brookfield said: “As we prepare for our third regatta of the season, I’d like to extend our thanks for all the support we have received from the sailing community, the armed forces and the general public. We’d like to thank the Army Sailing Association and the RYA for providing the boats. Without such generosity, we would not be able to offer this unique opportunity to those who have sustained traumatic injuries. We will be taking more than 60 injured servicemen out sailing this year and for many of them the experience will mark a major turning point when they start focusing on what they can still achieve.”
The charity, founded in 2008, will be entering teams in seven events throughout 2009. The programme commenced with the Red Funnel Easter Challenge and the Warsash Spring Championships and includes the J80 National Championships, the JP Morgan Round the Island Race, Cowes Week, Dartmouth Week and the J80 Autumn Cup.
Toe in the Water receives no statutory funding and relies entirely on voluntary contributions from individuals, trusts and companies." © Toe In The Water 2009 All Rights Reserved. (all text taken from http://www.toeinthewater.org/news.aspx)


We think Toe In The Water is a wonderful organisation, and we hope that they can continue with their initiative for many years to come.


If you are interested in supporting this incredible charity then please visit http://www.toeinthewater.org/get-involved.aspx to learn about making a donation, corporate sponsorship or becoming a fund raiser.

Henry Bomby Around Britain Challenge

At the Roan Star Sailing Outlet, we naturally take a great interest in British sailing events and British sailors. We recently discovered Henry Bomby. Henry is an 18 year old British sailor who plans to sail single handed around the British Isles in 2010. His boat is "Gerunuk" is a classic, long keeled, Contessa 26, number 184 built by Jeremy Rogers in 1969.

He has planned his course in detail, as he wishes to compete in the Round Island Race, and the J80 World Championships during his voyage. As part of the challenge Henry also plans to climb the Three Peaks. These are the same Three Peaks as the competitors face in The Three Peaks Yacht Race: Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike, and Snowdon. Henry has set himself quite a challenge, and we wish him all the best for his great adventure.

Visit the Henry Bomby Around Britain Challenge website for more information on Henry's preparation for his trip and his latest sailing updates
http://www.henrybombysailing.co.uk/index.htm

New MUSTO MPX Gore-Tex Offshore Race Sailing Jacket XL Available Now

We have a great value Musto MPX Gore-Tex Offshore Race Jacket available on eBay now in size XL. Save £55 off the Retail price and grab this jacket for only £270! Free UK delivery. Visit the Roan Star Sailing Outlet for full product details and technical information:

http://stores.shop.ebay.co.uk/Roan-Star-Sailing-Outlet

New Musto Hasler Stripe Rugby Shirt in Stock

New stock available at the Roan Star Sailing Outlet. We have the Musto Hasler Stripe Rugby Shirt. This shirt features:

• Navy Blue stripe with white and red stripes.
• Cotton canvas collar
• Large distress print Musto logo on back shoulder
• Branded eyelets on hem
• Knitted cuffs
• 100% Cotton Yarn dyed jersey. 240gm

We have also recently expanded our range of Musto Snug Blouson jackets, and there are many more colours ( blue, red, navy blue and black) and sizes now available in our eBay shop.

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/

Cowes Week

Cowes Week 2009 starts tomorrow and is one of Britain’s longest running sailing events. It now stages up to 40 daily races for over 1,000 boats. The 8,500 competitors range from Olympic and world class professionals to weekend sailors and is well known as the largest sailing regatta of its kind in the world.

We will be trying to follow the Cowes Week action online through Twitter ( search for #cowesweek ) and through various websites and sailing blogs.

Wishing everyone a fantastic week on the water!

Click on the link below to go to the official Cowes Week website for further information about events, places to stay, races, entries and history.

http://www.cowesweek.co.uk

50% off Musto Breathable Waterproof Soft Shell Race Jackets !

Three sizes available at the moment: L, XL and XXL.

Grab one quick before they disappear! These jackets are for sale now for just £69.

Technical Specification
• Waterproof & breathable with hydrophilic coating
• Soft shell fabric
• Fully lined
• Taped seams
• Double ended splash proof zip
• Moulded rubber cuff adjuster tab
• Zipped external pockets with mesh drainage
• Adjustable elasticated shock cord running through hem

Visit the Roan Star Sailing Outlet for Discount Musto Clothing http://stores.shop.ebay.co.uk/Roan-Star-Sailing-Outlet

New Musto Snug Blouson Jackets in Stock

We have just added some new black and navy blue Musto Snug Blouson jackets to our eBay shop. At the Roan Star Sailing Outlet we try to have these jackets available to our customers all year round and we are thrilled to have some more colours and sizes available again. We have sizes XL and M in the new lines, and we also have some cut price snug jackets available in red and blue. These are very popular versatile jackets, so check out our eBay shop for a great bargain:

http://stores.shop.ebay.co.uk/Roan-Star-Sailing-Outlet

These classic Musto jackets are showerproof, windproof, breathable, and warm. The outershell is peached polyester with a DWR finish. The feature a Polartec ® Classic 200™ fleece body lining and singled sided fleece sleeve lining. There is a fleece lined collar and two external fleece lined zipped pockets, and an inner security pocket. Comfortable knitted elasticated cuffs & hem and an external hanging tag on the back collar.

Perfect for sailing as a mid-layer under foul weather gear.

Free UK delivery

Mike Perham - World Challenge

Mike Perham is a young 17 year old British sailor that is very close to completing his solo circumnavigation of the world, only 20 days left until he returns!

Mike is not only out there having the adventure of a lifetime, but he's also raising money for charity. We took this off his site: "Mike is hoping to raise £24,000 (£1 for each mile travelled) for charities with his trip through fundraising. The money will be donated to two charities close to Mike´s heart: Save the Children, and the Tall Ships Youth Trust, which gives deprived children in cities a chance to experience sailing." ©Sailmike2009

It's an amazing achievement for such a young sailor. Zac Sunderland and Mike Perham are an incredible inspiration to us all. They are really living the ultimate sailing dream. There are so few sailors that have successfully completed a solo circumnavigation, let alone done it as teenagers! It is really incredible.

You can follow Mike on Twitter @PerhamMIKE or check out his website for his regular blog updates, photos, and Youtube video gallery. Mike's video gallery is the best, his videos are really interesting, and help you understand exactly what his journey has been like. Check out the Panama Video Blog taken from up the mast of his boat, Totallymoney. It really does give you a bird's eye view!

Click on this link for Mike's site http://www.totallymoney.com/sailmike/

Zac Sunderland

At the Roan Star Sailing Outlet we were very excited to hear the news about Zac Sunderland. He has just become the youngest person to circumnavigate the world alone by yacht. He is 17 years old and from California, USA.

Such an amazing achievement! Congratulations Zac!

Read all about his amazing journey and see some excellent photos on his blog

http://www.zacsunderland.com/blog/

Musto Deck Shoes on Sale

MUSTO GD360-LT Sailing Shoes available at the Roan Star Sailing Outlet.

http://stores.shop.ebay.co.uk/Roan-Star-Sailing-Outlet

We have available the Musto ® Performance GD360-LT Sailing / Deck / Boat Shoes for sale. Featuring a non-slip outsole and full leather uppers, these are top quality performance shoes.

Technical Specification:

• New GD-360 non-slip outsole.


• Leather Uppers
• Concealed EVA shock absorbing mid-sole.


• Anti microbial treatment.


• Padded tongue & collar for increased comfort levels.


• Removable anatomically-shaped footbed with heel and toe cushioning for added comfort.


• Easy on/off rear pull loop.


• Available in several colours. (Birch/Grey/Brown)

These popular leather shoes are very smart, durable and stylish. They retail for £80, but we are selling them for a bargain price of £47.99. Free UK delivery. Several sizes left.

Francis Colledge Yacht Racing

One of the exciting British sailors that we have discovered through Twitter is Francis Colledge. Francis has been taking part in the UK Mini Fastnet race run by the Royal Western Yacht Club in Plymouth. The Pimento didn't make it through to the finish this year, but we are sure that Frankie will have better success in his future sailing challenges. He is currently building a Mini Transat 6.50 campaign to enter either 2011 or 2012, and it is his ultimate goal to compete in the Vendee Globe in 2016.

Visit his website, Francis Colledge Yacht Racing, and learn more about this sailor

http://www.franciscolledgeracing.co.uk/index.html

Ben Rogerson Racing

Here at the Roan Star Sailing Outlet, we love to follow sailing stories as they happen. We are particular fans of solo sailing challenges. This week we discovered Ben Rogerson and his mission to design, build and race the boat to win the Mini Transat 2011. The Mini Transat started in 1977 and is held on alternate years. The race starts in France, goes via the Canaries and ends in Brazil. Ben Rogerson is hoping to become the first British yachtsman to win this race! He has started his preparation already, and has just completed a successful solo Atlantic Run, and is preparing to sail solo non-stop around Britain and Ireland next month. He plans to build his race boat in 2010 for qualification for 2011. Good Luck Ben!

Visit Ben Rogerson Racing to follow Ben's campaign:
http://www.benrogersonracing.com/default.aspx

Jessica Watson - Youngest Round

I just read about the Australian sailor, Jessica Watson, and her plans to sail solo around the world. She is only 16. She hopes to set off later this year, returning before she turns 17, taking more than a year off Australian Jesse Martin’s previous record. I think it's wonderful that Jessica is pursuing her dream. I hope her youth and enthusiasm will help her on her incredible adventure.

Follow her blog, http://www.youngestround.blogspot.com/

I really hope she can do it! Good Luck Jessica!

Free UK Shipping

We've just amended our eBay shop, so that now all of our items include free shipping within the United Kingdom. Just makes it simpler for everyone!

Big Oceans

Discovered Nick Jaffe on Twitter and decided to check his website. He's sailing from Europe back to Australia, single handed. He has a cool website, BigOceans, with his current position and he posts updates regularly. He also has a blog, and over 600 photos on the Big Oceans site. The photos are really interesting, and are an excellent visual diary of his journey. Worth checking this guy out! He's living the dream. http://www.bigoceans.com/home/

eBay International Shipping

Since the relaunch of our eBay shop last week we have had several enquiries regarding our shipping options. On all of our listings it gives the shipping prices for the UK, Ireland, Germany, France, USA and Canada. We will also ship to any of the other countries that are included in the Royal Mail Airsure service programme. We will offer International Shipping to the following countries:

Europe: Andorra, Austria, Azores, Balearic Islands, Belgium, Canary Islands, Corsica, Denmark, Faroe Islands, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Madeira, Monaco, Netherlands, Portugal, Republic of Ireland, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.

World Zones: Brazil, Canada, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, New Zealand and USA

Please contact us through eBay messages, or our email, or Twitter if you have any questions. We are always happy to help.

New Musto MPX Gore-Tex Offshore Race Jacket available now

We just added an excellent new Musto foul weather sailing jacket to our eBay shop.

• Technical Specification:
  
  
• Gore-Tex ® Performance Shell (Coastal Technology)
• LaminateRoll-away fluorescent yellow hood with adjustable width, height and face adjustment
• Fleece lined collar
• Articulated elbows & underarmsAdjustable double cuff design giving virtual drysuit cuff protection
• Double storm flap with drainage channel covering 2-way zip
• Handwarmer pockets with pull out to dry fleece lining
• Inner security pocket
• Two large self-draining cargo pockets
• Adjustable hem tensioner
• Facility to attach lifejacket
• Musto metalized prismatic reflective strips
• Unlined for ease of movement

Free UK delivery

http://stores.shop.ebay.co.uk/Roan-Star-Sailing-Outlet

Roan Star Sailing Outlet eBay Shop

We have begun the relaunch of our eBay shop. We are busy listing our items and all of our products will be available soon in our eBay Shop.
The stand alone website, http://www.roanstarsailingoutlet.co.uk/ has been closed for the rest of the year, and now we will be selling exclusively through eBay. We have had a great experience selling on eBay before and we hope some of our loyal eBay customers will be happy to see us back.

http://stores.shop.ebay.co.uk/Roan-Star-Sailing-Outlet

Help Save Mali's Rare Desert Elephants from the Severe Drought

If you care about rare and endangered animals, then please read this article and help save Mali's last remaining desert elephants. They urgently need our help in order to survive.

http://www.wild.org/blog/worst-drought-in-26-years-threatens-the-survival-of-the-last-desert-elephants/

Bank Holiday Bonanza!

We've just started a big Bank Holiday Sale, called the Bank Holiday Bonanza.

For this weekend only, from now until Monday night, we have cut the price of our Musto #1 Sweatshirt, Musto Snug Blouson Jacket, Lagoon Blue #1 Fleece, Musto #1 Tide Stripe Polos and Musto Lightweight Dinghy Smock. All of these items are available in limited sizes, but at heavily discounted prices.

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.

Duckling Rescue

Watch the baby ducklings leap to safety! It's amazing!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/8058221.stm

May's Special Offer

Only a few polo shirts left in our May Special Offer: Half the Recommended Retail Price, available now for just £17.50. Large and XXL available. Going Fast!

Hilary Lister's Round Britain Dream

Discovered Hilary Lister on Twitter. "Hilary Lister, a 37 year old quadriplegic from Kent, only able to move her head, sailed into the record books on 23rd August 2005 when she sailed solo across the English Channel. Since then Hilary has become the 1st quadriplegic sailor to sail Solo around the Isle of Wight and the first disabled woman to sail the length of the south coast. Hilary is preparing to complete the round Britain dream starting from Plymouth at the end of May, 2009. Hilary aims to become the 1st disabled woman to sail solo around Britain. She was forced to postpone her sail last year as she and the team were hit with the worst weather on record, but is determined to complete the sail this year."

Please visit her website through our Links list.

Keith Harris and his Paralympic Sailing Dream

I saw an article about Keith on South Today on the BBC. What an amazing guy! It was an inspiration to watch Keith in action. I had to find his website to find out more about the Excalibur Sailing Team. Please click on the link in our LINKS list to see his website, and learn more about his Paralympic dream. Maybe you can help sponsor a true sailor?

A bit of Fun for Friday

Discovered this funny website which is great if you want something to smile about! AwkwardFamilyPhotos.com. Do you have any photos to share? You can click through to this site through our Links list.

Twitter Sailing

It is amazing how many sailing tweeters there are. It is a brilliant way to learn all the latest sailing news as it happens. We've found a lot of great sailing, boating and yachting tweeters to follow, and it has been a lot of fun to discover a whole new sailing community across the world. Check it out.

Tweet Tweet

May Special Offers - Limited Availability!

We've added the Musto Seaview Polo shirt for £17.50, the Red Yacht Long Sleeve Applique Top for £17.50, and the Isobar T for £12.50 to our May Special Offers selection.
You won't find better prices than this, so stock up for summer with some classic Musto casual gear.

Glorious Marco Pierre White

As big Marco Pierre White fans, we thought we'd recommend the Glorious! Marco Pierre White Soups that we've just discovered in Sainsburys. The Indian Chicken, Spring Onion and Coriander soup was absolutely superb. Possibly one of the best soups we've ever had! Makes a welcome change from boring old carrot and coriander. Check them out.

Happy St.George's Day!

We're proud to be English and celebrate our patron saint today, but wouldn't it be great if we had a national holiday to go along with it!

New Stock Arrived !

We hand pick our stock so that all our prices are as low as they can go. Supply and availability is always limited at these prices, so we thought we'd tell everyone about the latest arrivals at the Roan Star Sailing Outlet website.

Today: We've just listed some more Birch Musto GD360-LT Deck Shoes -. These are very popular! We also have some more sizes in Grey too.

Also new in today are the Red Musto Soft Shell Race Jackets. These are perfect for sailing in the spring and summer because they are lightweight, breathable, waterproof and look good! A lot of people like to wear these onshore too. Available for only £74.40. That's a massive 40% off retail prices!

Which Superhero are you ?

While browsing the Stewart Lee website we discovered the Which Superhero are You ? quiz. It's obviously one hundred percent accurate, and a very insightful look in to the human psyche ;) If you like comic book heroes and always wanted to know who you are most like then this little quiz can provide literally a whole 2 minutes of fun. http://www.thesuperheroquiz.com/

MUSTO Navy Blue Waterproof Breathable Snug Jacket XXL

We sold out of our last Roan Star Sailing Outlet Monthly Special Offer so quickly that we have added another one, even though it is not yet May. Our Waterproof Breathable Snug Jacket is now only £45. One size available only, XXL. Grab it while you can !

New! Roan Star Sailing Outlet Monthly Special Offer

We have just added a new feature at the Roan Star Sailing Outlet.
Every month we will select one of our Musto clothing items for a super special low price offer. Availability will be very limited, so make sure to keep checking our site for these amazing savings.

This month we have the MUSTO Breathable Waterproof Soft Shell Race Jacket SB0060 in Navy Blue, size XXL. Only £67.50! These jackets retail for £124, so that is a terrific price for a top quality Musto sailing jacket.

Musto on YouTube

We recently discovered that the 2009 London Boat Show have posted some clips from the runway shows on YouTube. This clip features some of the Musto gear at the show http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EE4ZuhoNDm4 (skip this clip if life is too short for fashion)

While you are on YouTube check out the Musto Skiff and Musto Sailing videos that have been uploaded. It's great to see some real life sailing ! While looking for Musto on YouTube we also found a couple of Mike Golding Vendee Globe Boat Tour clips

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_OGvxf_zKY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mf1SH22Y3y0 (we like this clip because Mike is talking about how much he loves his Musto kit )

There are loads of Vendee clips on Youtube too. Infact whatever kind of sailing you are in to, then there will be something on there to interest you.

New MUSTO Backpack Just Arrived

New in store: Classic Black Musto Backpack

Loads of features:

•450 denier soft feel PVC coated polyester with diamond weave
•900 denier polyester base reinforcement
•Black with red trim
•Plastic Musto logo badge on front
•Large main compartment with padded base
•Removable padded computer case
•Two zipped side pockets
•Organiser sections in front pocket & main compartment
•Padded mesh back
•Adjustable ergonomic padded shoulder straps
•Adjustable waist belt straps
•Adjustable elasticated string section woven across front flap for holding loose items
•Hard plastic carry handle on top of bag with Musto branding

New Musto Dinghy Smocks in Store

New Musto Lightweight Dinghy Smock now available at our online outlet. This lightweight dinghy smock is perfect for spring and summer on the water. Very lightweight and with great Musto styling, this is an essential item for dinghy sailing. Buy it for only £42

The Clipper Round the World Yacht Race 09/10

Now is the time to sign up for the next Clipper Round the World!

Are you up to the challenge of 35,000 miles around the oceans of the world? Instead of just seeing these guys on the news, why not consider taking part? Sink your teeth in to a real ocean race. It's the adventure of a lifetime. They are looking for people to sign up now, and the best part is, you don't need any sailing experience ! It's the only yacht race in the world where absolute beginners can take part, which is great if you are new to sailing. Clipper train everyone who takes part so that all the crew work together as a team.

If you do have some sailing knowledge, then what could be more exciting than putting yourself to the ultimate test ? You can choose to take part in a single leg of the 14 races, or the whole thing. Check out the website for sign-up details, photos and articles.

http://www.clipperroundtheworld.com/index.php/take_part/sign_up

Galaxy Zoo 2

If you are interested in astronomy, then we thought you might like to visit the second version of the wonderful Galaxy Zoo : https://galaxyzoo.org/

Galaxy Zoo 2 has just launched, and is a great way to spend time looking at our universe. Help the astrophysicists classify over 250,000 galaxies in a simple and fun way by logging on to the site and looking at endless photographs from across the universe. Some of these galaxies are really beautiful, and it is a fascinating project to take part in.

New Google Checkout Payment Option Available

We have just added another payment processing facility to our website.
We can now take payments through Google Checkout as well as PayPal. This should make it even easier to shop at our Outlet. We have used PayPal for several years on eBay and have found it fast, safe and secure, but we decided to add Google Checkout to the Roan Star Sailing Outlet so that customers have a choice.

Favourite Gallery

The Photographers' Gallery has moved to a bigger venue, and is now at 16 - 18 Ramillies Street, London. This is great news! We love the Photographers' Gallery, it's our favourite London gallery. There are always exciting new exhibitions, and the bookshop is a treasure trove of beautiful photograpy books from across the world. The cafe serves delicious food too. It's hard to beat!

The gallery is getting ready for the Deutsche Börse Photography Prize 2009 exhibition. This exhibition showcases the nominees for the annual prize and is undoubtedly one of the best art events of the year. It's on from the 20th of February until the 12th of April.

For more information about the gallery, please click the link below to take you to the Photographers' Gallery homepage.

http://www.photonet.org.uk/

February Sale on Musto Blouson Jackets!

Big Savings Ahoy at the Roan Star Sailing Outlet!

Now get an unbeatable 31% off our Musto Snug Blouson Jackets. It's unbelievable value, and we haven't seen a better Musto bargain than that anywhere on the web. Musto make their blousons every year with very little change to the style or design. Once you have one of these jackets, you'll wonder how you ever managed without one. They're an absolute classic. Perfect as a middle layer underneath your sailing jacket, and smart enough to wear onshore too. http://www.roanstarsailingoutlet.co.uk/musto-snug-blouson-jacket-11-c.asp

We also wanted to recommend that people reserve the 24th-26th of July weekend for the annual CLA gamefair. This year the fair will be held at Belvoir Castle, Grantham, Leicestershire. It is undoubtedly one of the best events of the year, and is an absolute must for all lovers of the countryside and country sports.

Save this link to your favourites http://www.gamefair.co.uk/ for the latest information on exhibitors and events at the fair as they become available.