2024 is another very busy year once again in the RWYC offshore/ oceanic calendar. Sunday 5th May 2024 sees the 17th edition of the famous OSTAR race along with the 7th edition of the TWOSTAR race. T...
Sunday 12th May 2024
| Superbigou | open60 | mono | Will Claxton | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Polished Manx | Beneteau 40.7 | mono | Kuba Szymanski | Maciek Lato | Douglas Bay Yacht Club (RWYC) |
| Arcsine | 45 | Mono | Kathy Clayton | Philip Kirk | Weymouth SC JOG |
| Enigma | Sigma 35 | mono | Bob Wallace | Tim Cooper (4 crew) | RYYC |
| Paradox 3 | Irons 63 | Multi | Adam Davis | Jeff Mearing | Helford River SC |
| Sailescapade | 58 | mono | Peter Heermea | Richard Klabbers | RYS RYC De Kaag |
The 16th edition of the iconic two-handed Round Britain and Ireland Yacht Race is due to begin on Sunday 12th May 2024.
The race is a combination of competitive sailing and enjoyable social gatherings. The course, around all the islands of Britain and Ireland except the Channel Islands and Rockall, can be a severe test of navigation and seamanship in the heavy weather that is often experienced. By contrast the hospitality shown by the host Yacht Clubs and communities in the three stopover ports, in which the competitors must spend at least 48 hours, can be much more enjoyable and often just as exhausting.
Alongside the 2handed race we will once again we will be offering a crewed race. This will allow crew changes in Galway and on the East Coast in Blyth. This is a great opportunity to be part of a team racing around Britain and Ireland without the huge time commitment but with all the challenges of one of the toughest offshores in the racing calender.
Following the success of the first two OSTARs, Blondie Hasler proposed to the Royal Western Yacht Club that there should be a two-handed race around the British Isles. No doubt he considered a single-handed race, but the weather conditions and proximity to land necessitated two crew.
The Club considered the proposal and agreed to organise the first Round Britain and Ireland race in 1966. The course, of about 2000 miles, would be split into five legs separated by compulsory stop-overs of 48 hours each at Crosshaven in Ireland, Castle Bay, Barra in the Outer Hebrides, Lerwick in Shetland, and Harwich on the East Coast. It would circumnavigate Britain and Ireland and, with the exception of the Channel Islands and Rockall, all islands and rocks would be left to starboard.
The first race was a great success and the RB&I was established on a four year cycle (two years off the OSTAR cycle). Lowestoft replaced Harwich as the east coast port from the second race on. Except for 1993 in which Hartlepool was the east coast port, the course remained the same until Kinsale replaced Crosshaven in 2006.
The RB&I grew rapidly to a multinational entry of many boat sizes and types. In 1982 the 85 starters included an 80ft monohull, a 70ft catamaran, several 60 and 65ft trimarans, down to a 25ft monohull, and represented over a dozen nationalities.
The following race was sailed in 1985, since 1986 was given over to the second TWOSTAR so it could run two years apart from the OSTAR. The four year cycle continued with races in 1989 and 1993, but reverted to its original schedule in 1998 and has continued to the present.
For the history of the race go to RB&I Yacht Race History
