OSTAR 2009 starts in Plymouth
by Katy Thorpe 25 May 2009 20:58 BST
25 May 2009
More than 30 competitors in OSTAR 2009 departed from Plymouth this afternoon at 12.30pm on their 2,800 mile Atlantic crossing to Newport, Rhode Island, USA.
Crowds gathered to see H.R.H The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, K.G.,
K.T start the race from aboard the Trinity House vessel, Galatea. He was
joined by yachting favourites Mike Golding, Dee Caffari and Val Howells
(competitor in the first OSTAR in 1960), who all support the race which
has been hosted by the Royal Western Yacht Club for nearly 50 years.
After months of preparation and anticipation the skippers, ranging in
age from 18 years to 68, will now face strong, prevailing winds, an
adverse Gulf Stream, hazardous icebergs (south of the Sea of Labrador)
and dense fog as they each battle to reach their destination.
With international competitors from Austria, France, Germany, Holland,
Ireland, Italy, the USA and the United Kingdom, the whole world will be
watching their progress.
Trackers have been fitted on each boat and their progress can be seen via the OSTAR 2009 race website. Regular news updates and weather forecasts will also be available. The skippers will be leaving regular blogs on popular website www.blogstar.org.uk
David Southwood, Race Director of OSTAR 2009, commented: “It was a great
honour to have our Patron H.R.H The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh,
K.G., K.T starting the race. A huge crowd was out in Plymouth to show
their support for the competitors. The OSTAR is one of the most exciting
events in the yachting calendar and the Royal Western Yacht Club has
worked hard to maintain its Corinthian roots. We now wish the
competitors the best of luck in their crossing and we look forward to
greeting them on the other side of the Atlantic.”
The guardship HMS Iron Duke was on station in Plymouth Sound which was
packed with spectator boats patrolled by the Plymouth Lifeboat, a fire
ship and RIBs from the Royal Navy. A famous classic sailing craft
“Corbeau des Mers” from the Museum de la Resistance came over especially
from Brittany (she carried men across the channel in 1940 to join De
Gaulle’s Free French Army).
For more information on the race, and the day’s events, please visit the
website www.ostar2009.com