Oceanracing 2004 - The Transat Race 2004 - ORMA 60 RACE - Plymouth

The Transat Race 2004
Plymouth - Boston - Start 31.05.2004
www.thetransat.com - zur Übersicht

27.05.2004
THE TRANSAT: TOMORROW TABARLY'S FAMOUS PEN DUICK II & VI WILL ARRIVE...
'One man, one boat, the sea...The Transat established in 1960 as the OSTAR'

IN BRIEF:
* FINAL ON-WATER TESTING FOR RACE FLEET AS DEADLINE FOR SAIL TESTING LOOMS...
* TRANSAT RACE VILLAGE PREPARES TO WELCOME TWO HISTORIC BOATS...TABARLY'S PEN DUICK II AND VI...
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IN DETAIL:
A sunny day here in the Plymouth Yacht Haven and many of the boats taking part in The Transat are preparing to head out to sea this afternoon for their final checks. Under race rules 1800hrs today is the final occasion prior to Monday's start that the boats are allowed to leave the dock.

The Transat race this year is the 40th anniversary of the late Eric Tabarly winning the second OSTAR. Tabarly won not only the 1964 event but subsequently was the first person to win it for a second time when he competed on board his maxi Pen Duick VI in 1976. Tabarly single-handedly was responsible for the generating interest in the sport of single-handed offshore racing in France and is the reason why France is the dominant force in this sport and 26 of the 38 entries in The Transat are French.

To celebrate the great man and his historic victories this both Pen Duick II, his 1964 winner and the Pen Duick VI will be arriving in Plymouth tomorrow and will be present at the start of The Transat. Pen Duick II, is normally based at the French Ecole Nationale de Voiles in Quiberon, while Tabarly's famous maxi is based in Lorient and is part of the Pen Duick Academie, a charitable association that aims to preserve the history and philosophy of Tabarly.

The 44ft ketch Pen Duick II was the first purpose-built boat to win the OSTAR (as The Transat was known) and included unusual features such as an internal steering position and a 'fishbowl' in the deck through which to see. However, Pen Duick VI was not designed to be sailed single-handed. Prior to the 1976 OSTAR Tabarly had raced his maxi around the world with a crew of 18 in the Whitbread Round the World Race. To handle a boat of this size single-handed, let alone win the OSTAR, was a superhuman feat.

For further information, please contact Lou Newlands or Isabel Genis lou@offshorechallenges.com isabel@offshorechallenges.com (French/Italian/Spanish speaking) T: +44 (0)870 063 0218 F: +44 (0)20 7681 2912

Offshore Challenges Events Cowes Waterfront - Venture Quays Castle Street East Cowes Isle of Wight PO32 6EZ