Race History

In 1959, at the request of Lieutenant Colonel Herbert George (Blondie) Hasler, the Royal Western Yacht Club decided to organise a single-handed transatlantic race - and so a tradition was born.

Blondie Hasler had for some time been trying to promote the idea of a single-handed race across the Atlantic, against the prevailing winds and currents. His press release of November 1959 proclaimed: ‘Described by one experienced yachtsman as 'the most sporting event of the century', a transatlantic race for single-handed sailing boats will start from the south coast of England on Saturday 11 June 1960, and will finish off Sheepshead Bay, in the approaches to New York, at least a month later.’ He had interested Francis Chichester - hence the story of the half crown wager - and several others, but was unable to find an organiser or sponsor willing to move from the familiar full-crewed, or 'cruise in company', racing to such a dangerous sounding innovation. But Blondie persevered and, with Francis Chichester, approached the RWYC whose Commodore at the time was Sir Winston Churchill and got a positive response.

With a yacht club of repute to take on the organisation of the race, Blondie then obtained the sponsorship of The Observer newspaper and so the RWYC Observer Single-Handed Trans-Atlantic Race, or OSTAR, came about.

Of the eight entries for that first race just four crossed the start line on 11 June 1960 and a fifth, Jean Lacombe, started three days later. Forty days later Francis Chichester, in Gipsy Moth III, crossed the finish line to great media and public acclaim. All five competitors finished successfully with Jean Lacombe finally crossing the line in his 21ft Cap Horn some 76 days after the start.

The OSTAR was established and has been sailed every four years since.

Original competitor Val Howells has kindly found an interview dating back to the original race in 1960. The interview between Val and the BBC is sure to be of interest to many. To view an edited transcriplt please click here

To listen to the 1960 radio programme 'right click' HERE and 'save as' to download the file. (File size 40MB time 28.5 mins)