James Bremridge is ill and the rules talk he was due to give on Thursday evening has been postponed. A revised date will be published shortly.

Re-launched for this year by the Royal Western Yacht Club of England (RWYC), the TWOSTAR follows the original shorthanded and probably the toughest course across the Atlantic from Plymouth, England to Newport, Rhode Island, against the prevailing winds and currents. The first edition of this race was in 1981 and ran until 1994 and has been won by some well-known yachtsmen including Chay Blyth, Rob James, Laurent Bourgnon and Cam Lewis.

Anne Caseneuve in her Multi 50, on paper is currently the fastest boat and Anne knows what to expect as she has entered the Original Single Handed Transatlantic Race twice. However it is a long time since a multihull successfully completed the course under race conditions. Andrea Mura in his Open 50, Vento de Sardegna having had a class win in the Route de Rhum is probably the fastest monhull. But no one should discount the Open 40 (Roaring Again) of Hans Plas who has teamed up with Thibault Reinhart. In the 2010 Round Britain and Ireland Race (RB&I), Hans Plas having overtaken all the Multihulls was in the leading pack of five boats that were in sight of each other as they completed the last two miles to the finish after 2000 miles of hard racing. Thibault Reinhart is no stranger to Plymouth, having in recent years dominated the UK Fastnet 650 for Classe Mini yachts. The latest entry is Roaring Forty II (Class 40), skipper by Michel Kleinjans (Belgium) and Mick Liddy (Ireland). This pair teamed up for the 2006 RB&I and Michel has already completed the course three times in the Original Single Handed Transatlantic Race (OSTAR). As the North Atlantic rarely shows any mercy and the races are often as much about attrition as skill, the line honours prize could go to any of them.

The overall handicap prize in the last OSTAR was won by nearly the smallest boat in the fleet so and there are some strong contenders in the TWOSTAR. Pete McIntyre and Emma Nutt in their Sigma 36 Ruffian have demonstrated in the RB&I 2010 that they are a force to be reckoned with. Swan yachts are represented by Nigel Philpott and Desmond Crampton in Quid Non (Swan 40), and David Perkins in Suomi Kudu (Swan 38). In Jangada Too (J105) will be Richard Palmer and Trevor Drew. The oldest pairing in age has to be Keith Gibbs and Janet Sainsbury in Change of Course. Both have competed in many RWYC Ocean races and though they will probably be heard arguing in Plymouth beforehand, out on the water their combined experience will keep them moving West in all conditions.

With the Race Committee taking the decision not to charge late entry fees, the Royal Western Yacht Club together with the Newport Yacht Club has been brave enough to re-launch a race without a sponsor in difficult economic times, that is not dominated by a single class, where almost any competitor could walk away with one of the principle prizes.

TWOSTAR Website

Cremyll – Plymouth, 8th 9th 10th June 2012

The first ever 22 sq m British Championships will be held at Cremyll in Eastern Cornwall in June. British entries will be Cremyll Keelboats’Vigilant, Patriot, Chadrak, andCaritana, read more on www.cremyll-keelboats.org.uk/events

The racing will be organised by the Royal Western Yacht Club with a variety of sailing courses between the sound and the river Tamar. It will be possible to view the boats racing from Barnpool in  Mount Edgecumbeand from Cremyll Quay. Classic keelboats from the British Classic Yacht Club will also compete in the event. It is an open championship, so there will also be international yachts in the race. ”The French A22 “Just Rayonna”, the biggest Harry Becker design ever (LOA 12.38mt) will sail across the Channel “, says Barbara Bridgman at Cremyll Keelboats, the organizer of the championships. ”We also hope to welcome the beautiful Arvid Laurin design “Mary Lou” and her enthusiastic Swedish-Swiss crew, Barbara continues. She adds that ”from Sweden professional crews will fly over to show us how to do it…” In 2010 the famous British 22 sq m Vigilant and Patriot took part in the Swedish championships at Trosa.

These elegant boats reminding us of another era will be moored in the magnificent surroundings of theRoyal William Yard for all to admire. Just imagine these 22 square metres and other classic keelboats of great pedigree dancing on the water of the Hamoaze, where the British navy thrived in its haydays. Finally Plymouth’s waterfront can rejoice in the best spirit of maritime tradition.

For more info contact: Cremyll Keelboats, Mashfords Boatyard, Cremyll PL10 1HX Telephone   01752869000 www.cremyll-keelboats.org.uk

Cremyll Regatta 2012 Entry Form

Details and entry form to follow.

The event has already generated a tremendous amount of interest among women sailors from France, Norway, Germany and the UK. More countries are expected to sign up.

Sailed double handed in 33 foot Beneteau ‘Figaro 2‚s’, the 3300 mile route takes in the Bay of Biscay then leaves the Azores to starboard, before heading out across the Atlantic to Antigua. The course is designed to test the sailing and navigational skills of the women crew as well as their stamina and endurance.

One of the first teams to sign up was the British duo of Hannah Jenna and Sammie Evans, sailing under their ‘Team Beau-dacious’ banner.

The race is being organised by Team Concise in association with Royal Western Yacht Club and Antigua Yacht Club. In addition Plymouth University will be working with WOW to ensure the event is a success. — Sam Joseph in Sail-World.com

RYA Prescriptions 2012

Articles of Association 2011

Green Comm Racing spectacularly capsized off Jennycliff providing some amazing pictures and video.

For those of you wishing to watch the action on the water when racing starts please read Notice to Mariners for details of the exclusion zone.

In the mean time more information can be found on the Americas Cup World Series website, including some the promotional video for Plymouth.