Single handed racing

Single Handed Yacht Racing

Singled handed yacht racing has been around since 1885, when Joshua Slocum was the
first to solo circumnavigate in the Spray. Circumnavigation is not a sport for the feint of heart. It has only been achieved by 162 individuals, since Joshua Slocum sailed in the Spray. Singled handed yacht racing only 87 people can claim victory, since 1895.

Numerous experienced sailors have attempted this sport only to fail due to dismasting, keel failure, and worse. This highly competitive sport pits man against man, ship, but mostly against the elements and here lays the true challenge of the sport. One person has to do the jobs of 12 individuals.

This single person has to be alert 24/7 for month on end, taking an occasional moment to eat and sleep. Long periods of sleep are impossible even today with modern technology. Couple this exhaustion with the constantly changing seas it is easy to see why so few can claim victory. The OSTAR or Single-Handed Transatlantic Race began in 1960 and runs every four years. Today it is called the Transat.

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