Speed record for Watski Skagerrak TwoStar entries

The fourth edition of the double handed regatta Watski Skagerrak TwoStar opened for registration November 1st. Only three hours later the 150 spots for Norwegian sailors where filled up. There is still room for foreign entries.

Watski Skagerrak TwoStar is a challenging test of stamina, endurance, tactical skills and sleep management – just to name a few winning factors. The course stretches for nearly 300 nautical miles both along the coast and across open waters.

This concept has drawn sailors out of bed to get a much sought after entry every year for all three latest edition. This year was no exception.

- We expected that there would be a more moderate level of interest this time around since it’s the fourth time we arrange this regatta. But the sailors just keeps on surprising us, says Morten Jensen, editor in SEILmagasinet, the Norwegian yachting magazine who is media partner in Watski Skagerrak TwoStar.

The registration is online and just three hours after the registration opened at 07.00 Wednesday morning the 150 places where taken. This is a new record and it most definitely shows the level of interest shorthanded sailing has received after the Watski Skagerrak TwoStar was launched.

One of the keenest sailors even phoned in his entry from a storm ridden North Sea.

- The waves are topping out at 20 metres and the wind is rather fresh. It’s blowing 70 knots right now. It’s not exactly ideal sailing weather, said Eilert Kamfjord from the bridge of an oil tanker in the North Sea Wednesday morning.

He is sailing an X-332 together with Sverre Tangerud in the Watski Skagerrak TwoStar.

But even if all the 150 spots for the Norwegian sailors are taken, there is still room for foreign entries. 50 spots are reserved for non-Norwegians sailors that want to sail the double handed classic.

This fourth edition of Watski Skagerrak TwoStar starts in Hankø, Norway and takes the sailors to Arendal, Norway for a three hour pitstop before crossing Skagerrak to Marstrand, Sweden. After another three hours pitstop it’s of again back to Hankø and a completion of the nearly 300 nautical mile long marathon.

You can read more about the regatta on http://www.seilmagasinet.no/sm_arkiv/visElement.php?ID=10478 and read the entry list here:
http://www.seilmagasinet.no/sm_arkiv/s2sSamletliste07.php

KENMORE HOMES in the top five

Out of the 24 boats still racing in Classe 40, the three British sailors are dominating the top five in Route du Rhum. At the last polls Nick Bubb, in the most northern position, was the fastest of the three Brits, with over a knot more boat speed than Phil Sharp. Ian Munslow is following in the wake of race leader Gildas Morvan, who is sailing close to the rhum line. Ian reports on his website that he has had some equipment failures that have set him back a few hours.

Reporting from KENMORE HOMES this morning Nick said "We are blasting along. I did 23.5 knots which is the fastest KENMORE HOMES has ever been. There is 20-25 knots of wind and I have the fractional kite up and have just put a reef in the main. There is a massive swell which we've been surfing down. I haven't been able to leave the helm for two and a half hours but have just grabbed some food and water. I still haven't had much sleep but I'm planning on slowing the boat down a fraction this afternoon to get some rest."

The very light conditions of the first 36 hours of the race, during which Nick pushed hard to recover from the incident with the fishing net, have meant that Nick has had little chance to sleep. He must now find opportunities to catch up on sleep and make sure he does not wear himself out. However, with only 0.5NM separating KENMORE HOMES from 4th place, Nick must continue to keep his pedal to the metal, so to speak.

You can watch a cool video from KENMORE HOMES on Nicks homepage.