Please select your home edition
Edition
RYA Membership

RYA unveils selection criteria for World Sailing Offshore World Championship

by British Sailing Team 27 Feb 2020 14:40 GMT 17-20 October 2020
Offshore World Championship © Rick Tomlinson / RORC

The RYA has released its selection policy for the 2020 Offshore World Championship - the latest step in its exciting Mixed Doublehanded Keelboat programme.

The RYA has been working on the programme since the Mixed Two Person Offshore Keelboat was added to the list of Olympic events for Paris 2024.

The goals of the programme are to encourage participation in mixed doublehanded keelboat racing, to select and develop a team with the potential to win the 2020 Offshore World Championship and to develop a strategy to win Olympic gold at Paris 2024.

The Offshore World Championship will run alongside the Rolex Middle Sea Race from October 17 to 20 in Valetta, Malta, and will be contested in L30 yachts.

The RYA was among the first to secure an entry for the race, and is now looking to select a mixed, two-person crew to fly the flag for Great Britain.

Selection will be based on an extended version of the RORC Channel Race, beginning from Cowes, Isle of Wight, on August 1.

The RYA selection policy for the 2020 Offshore World Championship can be downloaded here.

The Mixed Doublehanded Keelboat programme will be led by Olympian and former British Sailing Team Nacra 17 coach Hugh Styles.

Styles brings more than 25 years of experience as an elite-level competitor and coach across a broad range of sailing disciplines.

He will be leading a training weekend on the weekend of March 7 and 8 at Royal Southern Yacht Club in Hamble, bringing together interested sailors and boat owners.

To attend the training weekend please register your interest by filling in the form here.

Further details about the RYA's plans for the Mixed Doublehanded Keelboat programme will be given during the weekend.

"Doublehanded offshore racing has seen steady growth in recent years with competition improving at a steady rate," said Styles."We hope that the inclusion of this discipline in the Olympics will see more sailors wanting to get involved and up their game.

"We have had a lot of interest already but we would really like to hear from as many keen sailors and owners as possible, just because you have never thought about it in the past, does not mean you can't be the first doublehanded offshore world champion.

"We will be working hard to develop a programme that encourages rapid learning and improvements in performance across the board so that we can establish Britain as the pre-eminent doublehanded sailing nation as we aim for medals at the OWC and ultimately Paris 2024."

RORC racing is IRC rated and not one design so in order to best reflect the criteria of the new Olympic equipment, the RYA selection for the Offshore World Championship will only be open to fixed keel monohulls within an IRC rating band between 0.990 and 1.055.

For more information on the RYA's Mixed Doublehanded Keelboat programme, contact Hugh Styles via .

Related Articles

Wilson wins Princess Sofia Trophy
As Brits dominate in Palma Sailors Emma Wilson and Micky Beckett spearheaded a massive nine-medal haul - the best in the event's history - at the LA 2028 cycle curtain raiser. Posted on 7 Apr
Princess Sofia Trophy marks start of LA 2028 cycle
British Sailing Team ready for 54th edition of this prestigious regatta The Princess Sofia Trophy regatta will take place in Palma, Mallorca. This year there are four sites making up the event: Arenal (49er, 49erFX, Nacra 17, 470), Ca'n Pastilla (ILCA 6 and 7), Portixol (iQFOiL) and Playa de Palma beach (Formula Kite). Posted on 27 Mar
Medals aplenty in Cadiz
British Sailing Team picked up silverware at the second round of the iQFOiL Games There was a flurry of medals for the British Sailing Team this weekend in the build-up to the Princess Sofia Trophy regatta, the historic season opener. Posted on 17 Mar
Wilson and Watson bring home iQFOiL Games spoils
Gold and bronze for British pair Emma Wilson marked her return to Olympic class racing with a resounding victory at the 2025 season opener, as teammate Islay Watson picked up bronze. Posted on 3 Feb
Emma Wilson launches LA 2028 campaign in Lanzarote
The 2025 iQFOiL Games kicks off in Playa Blanca on Wednesday The 2025 iQFOiL Games kicks off in Playa Blanca on the Canary Island of Lanzarote on Wednesday January 29 and concludes on Sunday February 2. Posted on 28 Jan
Ellie Aldridge made MBE in New Year's Honours
Following her groundbreaking victory in the women's kite competition at Paris 2024 Ellie Aldridge has been made an MBE in the King's New Year's Honours following her groundbreaking victory in the women's kite competition at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Posted on 31 Dec 2024
Aldridge shortlisted for World Sailor of the Year
After becoming the first ever Formula Kite gold medallist in Marseille Team GB's history-making athlete Ellie Aldridge has been shortlisted for the prestigious World Sailor of the Year award. Posted on 21 Oct 2024
Olympian raises £18k by raffling Paris 2024 boat
All the £18,053 raised will go to the Andrew Simpson Foundation Olympic sailor Micky Beckett has raised over £18,000 to help kids get on the water by raffling the boat he raced at Paris 2024. Posted on 14 Oct 2024
Brown and Barton rule the waves in Cagliari
Silver and bronze medals at the iQFOiL Europeans It was double delight for Brits Andy Brown and Matt Barton as they scooped silver and bronze medals at the iQFOiL European Championships. Posted on 12 Oct 2024
iQFOiL Euros kickstart LA cycle for Brits
GBR windfoilers will be out in force in Cagliari The British Sailing Team's windfoilers will be out in force in Cagliari, with six female athletes and five male athletes competing. Posted on 3 Oct 2024