Two Handed TransAtlantic Race
22nd October 2010
Today we attended an Oceanic Forum at the Royal Western Yacht Club in Plymouth, where the resurrection of the Two star Yacht Race in 2012 was announced.
The first edition of this race was in 1981 and ran until 1994 and has been won by some well-known yachtsmen including Chay Blyth, Rob James, Laurent Bourgnon and Cam Lewis.
This race will be run in partnership with Newport Yacht Club. Past Commodore, Norm Bailey, of the Newport Yacht Club writes “All of us at the NYC are thrilled with the return of this race and we look forward seeing old friends in Newport, the sailing capital of the world. We can promise you an experience never to be forgotten”.
In addition, the race will be supported by the Rhode Island State Yachting Committee and the city of Newport . Chairman of the RISYC, Robin Wallace, commented that “The Rhode Island State Yachting Committee is delighted to hear of the plans for the Twostar returning to Newport in 2012 and looks forward to supporting the Royal Western Yacht Club of England and the Newport Yacht Club when the competitors arrive”.
Just the news we have wanted to hear, since we discussed it after the presentation evening for the last Azores and back race. Without doubt, two handed sailing is on the up and up, if you need any further proof, just look at the number of entries in Azab 2011, well over one hundred boats taking part.
This race will not only fill a vital hole in the calendar, it gives the two handed community the opportunity to take part in a transatlantic race and for us this will fulfil a lifelong ambition to participate in a Corinthian, transatlantic race and we will be going flat out to achieve this objective. This epic race will start in Plymouth and finish at Newport, Rhode Island a distance of around 2800nm. It will be a pure test of seamanship, sailed predominantly against the prevailing westerly winds and against the Ocean currents, mainly in the form of the Gulf Stream but later the Labrador currents off Newfoundland, where sailing within the lower limits of the ice flow, ice burgs and fog and the increased concentration of fishing vessels operating in the richest fishing grounds in the world, namely the Grand banks, will certainly focus the mind. If you doubt this, watch the film Titanic a little closer next time!
For us the challenge is just too hard to resist and it was without hesitation, we said ‘count us in!’
Our initial investigation has already thrown up a few different options to consider, as to the route.
Option one is a great circle route, which as this would take us over Newfoundland, would require a waypoint somewhere in the region of 39degs N and 50degs W, however this route probably offers a higher possibility of head winds most of the way.
Option two would take us well North of the first option and with a little luck, could offer a little better wind angle, but with the increased likelihood of ice burgs, requiring the capability of receiving the very latest ice flow information, yet another thing to look into.
Option three is the most southerly and probably the warmest(something that holds great appeal to Emma),of the three routes but with a greatly increased risk of been becalmed due to the position of the Azores high(something that holds the least appeal to me)