TWOSTAR 1981

The first two-handed transatlantic race

This race was created to take the overflow from the 1980 OSTAR and, because it was two- not single-handed it had less restrictive size limits (150 entries and a maximum length of 85 feet). The event, which rapidly became known as the TwoSTAR, proved popular and it too was oversubscribed.

103 boats came to the start and British hopes lay with Robin Knox-Johnston / Billy King-Harman, in Sea Falcon (a 70 foot catamaran), and Chay Blyth / Rob James in Brittany Ferries GB (a 65 foot tri). They faced a strong challenge from the French, who included Eric Tabarly with his foiler trimaran Paul Ricard, Marc Pajot in Elf Aquitaine, Loic Caradec in Royale and Oliver de Kersauson in Jacques Ribourel at 78 feet the biggest boat in the race, and the Canadians Mike Birch and Walter Greene in Tele-7-Jours.

The race started in strong (30kt) winds and there were several incidents. The trimaran D’Aucy (Alain Labbe) and the proa Sudinox (Guy Delage) were in collision and retired with D’Aucy dismasted and Sudinox holed. Marc Pajot in Elf Aquitaine was in collision with Martin Minter-Kemp in Exchange Travel, which left Elf with a leak which required regular pumping and Exchange Travel put in to Fowey for repairs. Royale was dismasted soon after the start.

Gales continued for several days and more competitors suffered in what many experienced skippers said was as bad as, or worse than, anything they had encountered. Eric and Patrick Tabarly retired when Paul Ricard suffered structural damage, Philip Steggall and Thomas Wiggins were rescued from their upturned trimaran Bonifacio, and Gordano Goose retired to the Scillies with damaged rudder.
The proa Eterna Royal Quartz was dismasted and then abandoned when further damaged while sailing to Spain under jury rig. The failure of proas and their involvement in collisions saw their exclusion from future races.

Many boats thrived in the conditions. Chay Blyth and Rob James brought Brittany Ferries GB into Newport in a new record time of 14 days 13 hours and 54 minutes, 140 miles ahead of their nearest rival, Marc Pajot, in Elf Aquitaine. Eric Loiseau in Gauloise IV was third and Robin Knox-Johnston and Billy King-Harman fourth in Sea Falcon. Next came the first monohull, Bruno Bacilieri and Marc Vallin in Faram Serenissima just 2½ hours ahead of Florence Arthaud and Francois Boucher, in Monsieur Meuble. No less than 13 boats managed to beat Phil Weld’s single-handed record of the year before.

There were many close finishes with Black Jack and Poppy II eight minutes apart, F. Magazine and Festival de Lorient separated by just two minutes, and Coathalem, Sherpa Bill and Assassin finished within eight minutes after 25 days’ sailing.

Many smaller boats turned in remarkable performances and last to finish was 25ft Yang sailed by Jean Lacombe, veteran of the first OSTAR, this time accompanied by Tony Austin.

OBSERVER/EUROPE 1 TRANSATLANTIC RACE 1981 – The First TWOSTAR

Plymouth – Newport   06-Jun 12:00 BST   Started: 103 Finished: 76

Skipper

Co-Skipper

Yacht

Type

LOA

Class

H/cap

Elapsed Time

Corrected Time

O/A Place

Class Place

Corr Place

Nat

Blyth, Chay

James, Rob

Brittany Ferries GB

T

65.5

I

14 13 54

1

1

GBR

Pajot, Marc

Ayasse, Paul

Elf Aquitaine II

C

59

I

15 06 03

2

2

FRA

Loiseau, Eric

Mabire, Halvard

Gauloise IV

T

44

III

15 06 52

3

1

FRA

Knox-Johnston, Robin

King-Harman, Billy

Sea Falcon

C

70

I

15 22 38

4

3

GBR

Bacilieri, Bruno

Vallin, Marc

Faram Serenissima

M

66

I

16 01 25

5

4

ITA

Arthaud, Florence

Boucher, Francois

Monsieur Meuble

M

69

I

16 03 57

6

5

FRA

Martinoni, Paolo

Sala, Enrico

Starpoint

T

53

II

16 04 58

7

1

ITA

Riguidel, Eugene

Coste, Jean-Francois

Lesieur-Tournesol

T

54

II

16 05 22

8

2

FRA

Gabbay, Alain

Beranger, Andre

Charles Heidsieck III

M

65

I

16 05 59

9

6

FRA

Gilard, Daniel

Pean, Lionel

Brittany Ferries FR

T

45

III

16 07 21

10

2

FRA

Malinovsky, Michel

Charpentier, Joel

Kriter

M

75

I

16 08 48

11

7

FRA

Pesty, Gerard

Griziaux, Jean-Paul

Gepe Papiers Peints

T

43

III

16 23 54

12

3

FRA

Poupon, Philippe

Capelle, Charles

Chaussettes Kindy

T

38

IV

17 21 30

13

1

FRA

Luhrs, Warren

Stanek, Jim

Tuesday’s Child

M

54

II

18 07 24

14

3

USA

Walwyn, Philip

Walwyn, Frances

Skyjack

C

45

III

18 23 35

15

4

SKN

Dovaston, Fred

Taylor, Jeffrey

Inkel Hi-Fl

M

38

IV

19 14 54

16

2

GBR

Reed, Bertie

Martin, John

Voortrekker

M

49

II

19 20 49

17

4

RSA

Moussy, Olivier

Chambaz, Louise

S. Marine

M

44

III

20 00 28

18

5

FRA

Fournier, Philippe

Nedellec, Yann

Technica

T

36

IV

20 06 40

19

3

SUI

Martin, Annick

Cordelle, Annie

Super Marches Bravo

M

45

III

21 04 28

20

6

FRA

Carpentier, Patrice

Carpentier, Jean Michel

BMW Marine

M

38.5

IV

21 05 28

21

4

FRA

Derunes, Jean Pierre

Wilmet, Andre

Fleury Michon

T

44

III

21 10 42

22

7

FRA

Elies, Patrick

Hardy, Dominique

Philips Radio Ocean

M

34.5

V

21 14 51

23

1

FRA

Gatehouse, Mark

Holmes, Patrick

Mark One Tool Hire

T

30

VI

22 08 26

24

1

GBR

Frost, Simon

Wade-Brown, Eugene

Tri-Dextrostix

T

40.5

III

22 12 58

25

8

GBR

Petit-Etienne, Alain

Liot, Michel

Launet Entreprise

M

56

II

22 18 00

26

5

FRA

Morvan, Patrick

Vambacas, J.P.

Transports Jet

M

39

IV

22 18 35

27

5

FRA

Barton, Rodney

Pocock, Mike

Blackjack

M

38

IV

23 05 38

28

6

GBR

Dean, John

Reddyhoff, Richard

Poppy II

M

35

V

23 05 46

29

2

GBR

Griboval, Yvan

Carpente, Francois

First

M

34.5

V

2310 22

30

3

FRA

Horeau, Michel

Despaigne, Olivier

Dictionnaire Robert

T

56

II

23 10 52

31

6

FRA

Marty, Claire

Hermann, Catherine

F. Magazine

M

37

IV

23 15 31

32

7

FRA

Dedienne, Marie Noelle

Bernadin, Isabelle

Festival de Lorient

M

41

III

2315 33

33

9

FRA

Lie, Gustave Brun

Thorleifson, Thorleif

Nor-Am Friendship

M

37

IV

23 19 00

34

8

NOR

Seeten, Joe

Vergnot, Sylvain

Lady of Sailomat

M

40

IV

23 20 56

35

9

FRA

Sweeney, John

White, David

Misanthrope

M

43

III

23 21 14

36

10

USA

Chichester, Giles

Gladstone, Brian

Gipsy Moth V

M

57

II

24 03 09

37

7

GBR

Montesinos, Dominique

Montesinos, Malou

Ville de St Nazaire

M

39

IV

24 04 51

38

10

FRA

Curt, Enrique

Oliva, Bernard

Picancel

M

38

IV

24 09 12

39

11

ESP

Vinck, Paul

d’Haeseleer, Gerrit

Patrick III

M

45.5

II

24 09 53

40

8

BEL

Perkins, Tom

Aschenbrenner, Phyllis

Heart

T

29

VI

24 17 23

41

2

USA

Monaco, Valerio

Masala, Giorgio

Bella Blu

M

39

IV

24 17 45

42

12

ITA

Guzzetti, Edoardo

Rigo, Sergio

Namar V

M

41

III

25 07 21

43

11

ITA

Guillemot, Marc

de Broc, Bertrand

Coathalem

M

30

VI

25 08 19

44

3

FRA

Perkes, Alan

Rees, Tim

Sherpa Bill

M

36

IV

25 08 24

45

13

GBR

Wells, Brian

Sanders, Barry

Assassin

M

38.5

IV

25 08 27

46

14

GBR

Granholm, Kai

Koskimies, Klaus

Olympus Camera

M

35

V

25 09 40

47

4

FIN

Greggory, Didier

Caudrelier-Benac, Alain

Port du Crouesty

M

34.5

V

25 09 57

48

5

FRA

Philips, Peter

Brimacombe, Keith

Livery Dole II

T

35

V

25 10 25

49

6

GBR

Pinkiewicz, Jan

Krupski, Wojciech

Kapitan II

M

43

III

25 13 12

50

12

POL

Hannaford, Gerard

Stockwood, Michael

Airstrip 2

M

29

V

25 13 48

51

4

GBR

Ross, John

Hoe, Carl

Thunderer RAOC

M

32

V

25 14 44

52

7

GBR

Dardel, Olivier

Callico, Emmanuel

Alcatel

M

37.5

IV

25 15 22

53

15

FRA

Bonham, Eve

Thomas-Ellam, Diana

Hello World

M

35

V

25 18 21

54

8

GBR

Bernadin, Guy

Herbert, Andrew

Ratso II

M

38

IV

25 18 34

55

16

FR/GB

Jean, Jacques

Jean, Benoit

Moody Blue

M

48.5

II

26 02 45

56

9

FRA

Tetley, Jeremy

McCormick, John

Carte Blanche

M

36

IV

26 04 53

57

17

GBR

Adams, Graham

Murdoch, Stewart

Adfin’s Rival

M

37.5

IV

26 07 24

58

18

GBR

van Hagen, S.C.J.

Jaspers, Rob

Betelgeuze

M

42

III

26 08 28

59

13

NED

Hampton, Kitty

Hayward, Rachel

Wild Rival

M

34

V

26 17 15

60

9

GBR

Colojew, Jerzy

Borowsky, Jacek

Carmen

M

30

VI

27 05 21

61

5

POL

Jeziorski, Wojciech

Buchner-Jeziorski, Anna

Retman III

T

52.5

II

27 09 48

62

10

POL

Ferrer, Jose Luis

Kirchner, Xavier

Puerto Principe

T

39.5

IV

27 10 27

63

19

ESP

Simpson, Cyril

Brown, F.A.

Phantom

M

35

IV

27 12 57

64

20

GBR

Minter-Kemp, Martin

Wingate-Gray, Michael

Exchange Travel

M

38

IV

27 17 32

65

21

GBR

McClure, William

McClure, Bud

Thistledowne

M

28

VI

27 22 20

66

6

USA

Roemers, Kees

Roemers, Nancy

Bollemaat IV

M

44

III

28 05 22

67

14

NED

Menzies, Bob

Bruet, Christine

Dancing Dolphin

M

37

IV

28 10 54

68

22

GBR

Benson, Julian

Robinson, Nick

Therm-A-Stor Mermaid

M

32

V

29 12 17

69

10

GBR

Esson, Frank

Walker, Martin

Melmore

M

46

II

30 07 52

70

11

GBR

Penoyre, Slade

Blofeld, Tony

Telstar SP

M

26

VI

31 01 24

71

7

GBR

Lafortune, Luc

Turenne, Pierre

Bourlingueur III

M

26.5

VI

32 00 49

72

8

CAN

Koskinen, Lennart

Flegge, Gustaf

Fiskars Finnsailer

M

34

V

32 07 02

73

11

FIN

Hammick, Anne

Hammick, Elizabeth

Miss Alfred Marks

M

33

V

32 22 23

74

12

GBR

Kayll, Joseph

Kayll, David

Wild Thyme of Durham

M

41.5

III

33 18 04

75

15

GBR

Lacombe, Jean

Austin, Tony

Yang

M

25

VI

41 16 12

76

9

USA

Caradec, Loic

Faque, Philippe

Royale

T

60

II

Dismasted soon after start 6/6, towed to Plymouth

FRA

Delage, Guy

Delage, Danielle

Sudinox

Proa

56

II

Damaged in collision 6/6; ret’d Plymouth under own sail

FRA

Labbe, Alain

Brillart, Francois

D’Aucy

T

39.5

IV

Dismasted in collision 6/6 with SUDINOX at the start

FRA

Steggall, Philip

Wiggins, Thomas

Bonifacio

T

45

III

Capsized 7/6- S.A.R. initiated on EPIRB signal and later ARGOS. Crew picked up by M/V ANGEL HAPPINESS then transferred to H.M.S. CARDIFF

USA

Stuart, Mike

Trickey, Claire

Amp U.K. Overseas

M

40

IV

Ret’d Falmouth 8/6 acute seasickness

GBR

Lucas, Roland

Dupuis, Jean-Yves

Antares

M

60

II

Retired 9/6 due to injury

FRA

Tabarly, Eric

Tabarly, Patrick

Paul Ricard

T

52.5

II

Ret’d to Cherbourg 10/6 with structural damage

FRA

Thouverez, Jacques

de Carlan, Herve

Ovum

M

40

IV

Ret’d Le Havre 10/6 yacht making water; crew seasick

FRA

Adam, Christian

Goulet, Annie

Presse de la Manche

M

36

IV

Ret’d 10/6 crew injured

FRA

Vidal, Jean Marie

Aigon, Elie

Eterna Royal Quartz

Proa

55.5

II

Dismasted 11/6 tried to make Spain under jury rig; more damage; activated EPIRB French A/C directed M/V to rescue crew; yacht abandoned

FRA

de Kersauson, Olivier

Dijkstra, Gerard

Jacques Ribourel

T

78

I

Dismasted 12/6

FRA

Netler, Lars

Johansson, Peter

For Fun

M

44

III

Lost rudder & self steering gear 13/6.Crew resc’d by H.M.C.S. HURON yacht abandoned

SWE

de Vries , Herman

Castelein, Sipke

Frisia’s Viking

M

30.5

V

Steering problems. Ret’d Falmouth 13/6

NED

Green, Clive

Thornton, Tim

Quartzlock

M

33.5

V

Retired to Plymouth 14/6 with multiple defects inc water tank ruptured; autohelm; mainsail track slides broken; floors adrift

GBR

Peyron, Bruno

Peyron, Loick

Takara

C

56

II

Ret’d 17/6; structural damage

FRA

Terlain, Jean Yves

Fevrier, Christian

Gautier II

T

45

III

Damaged rudder and sails 17/6 ret’d but arr Newport 3/7

FRA

Oakley, John

Holland, Laurel

Kriter Lady II

M

68.5

I

Problems with mast steps. Ret’d to motor sail in to Newport. Short of time

GBR

Austoni, Edoardo

Sciarrelli, Carlo

Chica Boba

M

56

II

Ret’d with broken boom

ITA

Ralys, Michel

Mahe, Christopher

Petit Reouin

T

49

II

Retired to Cherbourg with jib furling gear problems

FRA

Birch, Mike

Greene, Walter

Tele-7-Jours

T

53

II

Hull damaged due to weakness of hull structure. Tried to reach N.S. under own power but was finally towed into Liverpool N.S.

CAN

Siudy, Jerzy

Kaliski, Wojciech

Cetus

M

44.5

III

Ret’d to Lisbon. Forestays carried away

POL

Wood, Frank

Hampson, Michael

Triple Jack

T

45

III

Dismasted about 160′ SE of Halifax crew & yacht picked up by M/V and deposited off Newport to be towed in

GBR

Leguen, Joseph

le Hir, Jean Yves

Brest Jusant

T

38

IV

Entered Brest for repairs; left 7/6 later dismasted ret’d Brest

FRA

Irens, Nigel

Pridie, Mark

Gordano Goose

T

40

IV

Retired to Scilly rudder problem

GBR

Coucy, Rene

Loose, Bernard

Utopie

M

37

IV

Ret’d to Calais; no reason rept’d

FRA

Palasset, Jacques

Rondeleux, Jean-Alain

Champagne Delafon

M

32

V

Retired to Calais; no reason given

FRA

Vuylstekker, Jean Jacques

Bouillet, Jean Michel

Jeremi V

M

35

V

Retired to Calais; rigging trouble

FRA