OSTAR 2009: Britain boasts 17 competitors in the world's oldest trans-atlantic race

Everything you need to know as 36 of the world's best sailors prepare to leave Plymouth and sail single-handedly across the Atlantic to Rhode Island in the OSTAR challenge.

What? One sailor. One boat - pretty much says it all. The Ostar - Original Single-handed Trans-Atlantic Race - is the oldest solo challenge on the sailing circuit, originating in 1960 and covering 3000 miles.
The event is put on every four years and is open to 30-50 foot monohulls or multihulls.

Where and when? Race starts 25th May. This year's route will see competitors depart from Plymouth with Newport, Rhode Island their final destination.
To track a team go to www.blogstar.org.uk

And who? The event always attracts the biggest names in professional sailing, and entrants this year come from Great Britain, Ireland, Austria, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, New Zealand and the USA. Pete Goss, Mie Golding and Dame Ellen MacArthur have all taken part in the past but not Briton has won since Geoffrey Williams in 1968. Aside from an American winner in 1980 and an Italian in 2005 the French have always dominated the event.

Origins: In 1956 Blondi Hasler - a Royal Marine hero - thought up the idea of a 3,000 mile trans-atlantic race. Not fazed by the dangers the race represented at the time, Hasler said: "There would obviously be some risk to life."
Hasler earnt the support of Sir Francais Chichester and soon after the event was sponsored by the Royal Western Yacht Club. The O of Ostar was originally a reference to the Observer newspaper which also sponsored the event.
The first race saw five entrants start the race - and amazingly - all five completed it. Chichester arrives first, completing the race in 40 days 12 hours and 30 minutes. Hasler reached New York after 48 days.

Past winners:

1964: Eric Tabarly 27 days
1968: Geoffrey Williams 25 days 20 hours 33 minutes
1972: Alain Colas 20 days 13 hours 15 minutes
1976: Eric Tabarly 23 days 20 hours 12 minutes
1980: Philip Weld 17 days 23 hours 12 minutes
1984: Yvon Fauconnier 16 days 22 hours 25 minutes
1988: Philippe Poupon 10 days nine hours 15 minutes
1992: Loick Peyron 11 days one hour 35 minutes
1996: Loick Peyron 10 days, 10 hours, five minutes
2000: Francais Joyon nine days 23 hours 21 minutes
2005: Franco Manzoli 17 days 21 hours 41 minutes

Teams 2009:

No

Skipper

Nationality

Boat name

Type

1

Bob Adams

USA

Perseverance

Open 40

2

Geoff Alcorn

GBR

Wind of Lorne II

Saltram 36

3

Steve Black

USA

Caribbean

Prima 38

4

Bart Boosman

NED

De Franschman

One off 30

5

Jacques Bouchacourt

FRA

Okami

Futura 50

6

Peter Bourke

USA

Rubicon

Outbound 44

7

Paul Brant

GBR

Ninjod

JOD 35

8

Anna Caseneuve

FRA

Croisières Anne Caseneuve

Class 50 Trimaran

9

Christian Chalandre

FRA

Olbia

S & S 34

10

Michael Collins

GBR

Flamingo Lady

Westerly 33

11

Rob Craigie

GBR

Jbellino

J 122

12

Peter Crowther

GBR

Suomi Kudu

Swan 38

13

Rob Cumming

GBR

Egotripp

Tripp 40

14

John Falla

GBR

Banjaard

Swan 36

15

Jeremy Freeman

GBR

QII

One off 35

16

Reini Gelder

AUT

Light for the World

Trmaran Crowther 40

17

Pip Hildesley

GBR

Cazenove Capital

Oyster 395

18

Barry Hurley

IRL

Dinah

JOD 35 (Mod)

19

Dick Koopmans

NED

Jager

Koopmans 35

20

Jane kees Lampe

NED

La Promesse

Open 40

21

Andrew Magrath

GBR

Roaring Forty

Class 40

22

Oscar Mead

GBR

King of shaves

J 105

23

Katie Miller

GBR

bluQube

Figaro II

24

Marco Nannini

ITA

British Beagle

Sigma 36

25

Andrew Petty

GBR

Jemima Nicholas

Intrepid

26

Sandro Quaglia

FRA

Diavolo Porco

Adventure 35

27

Uwe Rottgering

GER

Fanfan!

One Off Greyhound 40

28

Will Sayer

GBR

Elmarleen

Sigma 33C

29

Jonathan Snodgrass

GBR

Lexia

Sunbird 32

30

Huib Swets

NED

Vijaya

De Ridder 40

31

Gianfranco Tortolani

ITA

Citta di Salerno

Adventure 30 Open

32

Luca Trentini

ITA

FIBRA

Open 35

33

Roberto Westerman

ITA

Spinning Wheel

Open 40

34

Mervyn Wheatley

GBR

Tamarind

Formosa 42

35

Hannah White

GBR

Pure Solo

Figaro II

36

Luca Zoccoli

ITA

In Direzione Ostinata e Contraria

Open 35