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Double OSTAR veteran Jerry Freeman has woken abruptly from a long and prolonged nightmare, that of watching the days getting closer to the start of OSTAR with still no suitable boat to be seen. No dispensation was given on this matter, swimming is still not allowed in OSTAR.
When a while back we looked at who was favourite for overall line honours for this race JanKees Lampe came second. Let me explain what we meant by second because, believe me, it sounds more like first to me. JanKees is the star in blogSTAR.
“Uwe Röttgering, born in 1968, started sailing when he was a child. After crossing the atlantic for the first time under sail in his early twenties, trips to Iceland , Scandinavia and jobs as a charter skipper in the Western Mediterranean followed.
Growing up on an island in Cobh, Co Cork , Ireland , Barry Hurley (32) developed a strong affinity for boats and the sea from a very young age. Now a member of the Royal Irish Yacht Club, he followed the classic progressive route through dinghy racing as a young boy, moving up to bigger boats in his teens. After many successful years involved in several keelboat grand prix campaigns, Barry began to grow tired of travelling to the same events year on year and looked for a different challenge.
I've met with Rob at the Solo Racing Festival and we took the chance to record a short interview. With more and more of the big boats in doubt for OSTAR, Rob Craigie has every chance to do well and take a shot at monohulls line honours. We have already published Rob's profile and past experience and you can read it here if you've missed it.
As usual, you can read the interview or listen to it scrolling to the bottom.
This weekend I met for the first time my connational Luca Zoccoli at the Solo Racing Festival organised by Racing at Petit Bateau and held at the RSYC. Luca is a mini sailor and has now entered OSTAR 2009. 3000 miles from Plymouth UK to Newport RI in the states, The OSTAR is a legendary race and about 30 italians have taken part in the past editions. Franco Manzoli winner of the 2005 edition aboard Cotonella was the first Italian to take Line honours but Giovanni Soldini has had notable results too.
Questo weekend ho incontrato per la prima volta Luca Zoccoli al Solo Racing Festival organizzato da Racing at Petit Bateau tenutosi a Southampton presso il Royal Western Yacht Club. Luca, gia' minista di lunga data si e' ora iscritto alla OSTAR 2009. 3000 miglia da Plymouth in Inghilterra a Newport RI negli Stati Uniti. La OSTAR e' una regata mitica e circa una trentina di Italiani l'hanno corsa negli anni dal 1960 quando si tenne la prima edizione.
Oscar Mead is one of the UK's top up and coming solo and shorthanded sailors, despite the fact that he isnt yet 19 years old! Already officially confirmed as the youngest entrant in the 2009 OSTAR, Oscar has a long term goal to be a race winning contender on the start line of the race all singlehanders want to compete in, the Vendee Globe round the World Race. Oscars target is 2016!
For me this project 30/30. Its 30 years since I last crossed the Atlantic and the boat is 30 years old. Its just the right time in my life, and in the absence of a sponsor, I have to do the trip in the boat I have and I am happy with that, even if I will be tail ender. Well you know all about the Tortoise and Hare as well as Age and experience over youth.
Johan Langbroek has signed up for blogSTAR. Johan is a confirmed entrant in OSTAR on Krijntje, a Contessa 32. Johan is one of the 6 Dutch entrants and has already completed his qualifier passage.
P.S. His boat is the blue one in the picture... I'll let you guess which of the two.
