OSTAR and TWOSTAR combine start for 2017

The Royal Western Yacht Club has announced a combined start date for the Corinthian Yachtsman's two most iconic trans-Atlantic races. The OSTAR (The Original Single-handed Transatlantic Race) founded by Cockleshell hero Blondie Hasler in 1960 and run every four years since and the TWOSTAR, first held in 1981, will both start from Plymouth heading for Newport RI on 29th May 2017.

Event Chairman and former OSTAR Race Director, John Lewis, explained: "We believe there are many amateur yachtsman who want to achieve what is still considered the Everest of singlehanded sailing also, interest in two handed racing is on the increase. It therefore makes sense to combine the logistics and administration of the two events making them more financially viable for the RWYC and our partner the Newport Yacht Club in America."

The last winner of both the OSTAR and TWOSTAR races and 2016 Vendee Globe competitor Italian Andrea Mura, commented: "Racing across the three thousand miles of the North Atlantic is the ultimate short-handed challenge. For me both these events provided invaluable experience so that I could progress in our sport."

The RWYC, established in 1827, is proud to remain the only yacht club organising trans-ocean shorthanded racing. These events have produced some of the world's greatest yachtsmen including Eric Tabarly, Loick Peyron, Ellen MacArthur and Mike Golding.

International interest in these races is already building with over twenty skippers from ten different countries on the short list.

Further details including the Notice of Race can be found at www.rwyc.org/ostar or email .