Single-Handed Transatlantic Race

The Single - Handed Transatlantic Race (short- STAR, on French transat anglaise: English transatlantic race ) is a discharged since 1960 every four years transatlantic race for solo sailors that the English Plymouth to the east coast of the U.S. ( mostly Newport, rare New York or Boston) leads.

Due to the popularity and the professionalization of a portion of the participant field the race after 2000 in a regatta for professionals was (The Transat, first time in 2004 ) and a regatta for amateur (Original Single - Handed Transatlantic Race, short OSTAR, beginning in 2005 ) divided; both races continue to be conducted every four years. Here, the existence of the Transat is questionable after the running of the race was postponed for the year 2012 for an indefinite period.

The regatta was thanks to sponsors change in its history, different names. Originally sponsored by the British newspaper The Observer, it was many years Observer Single -handed Transatlantic Race, short OSTAR. Later name kept until the division after 2000, at least part of the name " STAR " (eg C -STAR ), and the amateur regatta OSTAR used again today, the original acronym.

Development of the Regatta

Initiators of the regatta were the two British Blondie Hasler and Francis Chichester, who received a bet to a Halfpence who would cross the Atlantic faster. Chichester started with his yacht Gypsy Moth III, while Hasler took up with Jester, in addition, there were three other participants. Chichester won in 40 days, Hasler finished second in 48 days.

German participants in this race were, inter alia, Claus Hehner (1972: 28th place ) and Wolfgang Quix ( 1980, 1988, 1996), but could not hold their own against international competition. Traditionally, the OSTAR of French and English is dominated, in principle landed multihulls on the front seats since the 1980s.

With each edition of the event, the race professional and the possibility mitzusegeln without sponsors help front was lower. Towards the end of the 20th century was the organizers realized that the gap between the professional sailors participating in the race and also the starting amateurs had become unbridgeable large. As a result of this finding, the race was divided into two events. On the one side is The Transat ( Plymouth - Boston) for professional sailors with boats of the IMOCA 60 class 40 class and on the other side of the original Singlehanded Trans Atlantic Race ( Plymouth - Newport RI) for smaller boats. When Artemis Transat 2008, the German Boris Herrmann placed 2nd in the class of Class 40 yachts. He reached the best result that could ever achieve a German solo sailors in one of the large -handed races. The last OSTAR took place in 2009. The only German sailor was Uwe Röttgering with its aluminum yacht FANFAN! . The next The Transat has been announced for 2016. Start and end port are still open.

Single copies of the regatta

The participants are registered boats and the (rule- compliant) are specified to the finish came boats.