16 Nations to contest Offshore Double Handed World Championship
by RORC 12 Jul 2024 06:25 AEST
September 24 - October 1, 2024
Offshore Double Handed World Championship © Rick Tomlinson / RORC
Organised by Lorient Grand Large in association with FFVoile, the Yacht Club De France and the Royal Ocean Racing Club with the support of Cap-Regatta and Multiplast/Jeanneau.
The inaugural World Sailing Offshore Double Handed World Championship (ODHWC) has attracted teams from 16 countries on four continents. The 22 team slots have been accepted by Member National Authorities with more teams on the waiting list. The 22 confirmed entries, which are for mixed teams, come from Australia, Belgium (2), Canada, France (2), Germany, Great Britain (2), Greece, India, Ireland, Japan, Netherlands (2), New Zealand (2), Spain, Sweden, Turkey and USA (2).
Lorient Grand Large will host the 2024 World Sailing Offshore Double Handed World Championship. Lorient has been a centre of excellence for competitive sailing for decades. Lorient is home to elite level teams in the Ultim and IMOCA Classes, as well as the Mini 6.50, Figaro and Class40. The venue has hosted major events in recent years, including The Ocean Race, Solitaire du Figaro, and the Retour à La Base. From the legendary adventures of Éric Tabarly to the modern day hi-tech offshore foilers, Lorient is the epicentre for offshore racing in France.
The course area for the ODHWC will be north of Lorient, along the rugged Atlantic Coast, as far west as the Isles of Scilly, and to the east, the Western Approaches of The English Channel. In September, westerly winds and strong ocean currents are expected to produce complex and thrilling conditions for the Offshore Double Handed World Championship.
All teams in the ODHWC will take part in an Elimination Series consisting of two groups. Each team will take part in one overnight race. The first 5 boats of each group will qualify for the Final Race. The winner of the Final will be the 2024 Offshore Double Handed World Champion.
The teams will race One Design Sun Fast 30s supplied by the Cap-Regatta. The Sun Fast 30 OD is the brainchild of UNCL - Pôle Course du YCF in partnership with the Royal Ocean Racing Club and the Storm Trysail Club. The 10.4m monohull is a simple, affordable and sustainable in design. The Sun Fast 30 OD is built in a collaboration between Jeanneau and Multiplast.
The Sun Fast 30 OD was new for the 2023 season and has been racing in the world's largest offshore racing series - the RORC Season's Points Championship. Ten Sun Fast 30 ODs are entered for the Drheam Cup in July 2024. The Sun Fast 30 OD is one of the first production model sailboats built from a recyclable resin, which highlights the latest developments in sustainable boat building.
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