OC Events today announced that the 13th edition of The Transat, formerly the OSTAR, will take place in 2008. The Transat is the world’s oldest single-handed ocean race, the first edition was in 1960, won by Chichester with a passage time of just over 40 days. The last Transat was in 2004; 37 boats entered, and British yachtsman Mike Golding won the IMOCA class.

The Transat 2008 will start from a UK port, sending competitors west to a North American port, in May 2008. A number of city bids are under consideration, and in the UK shortlist has been narrowed down to just two, one being Plymouth.

The Transat is known for its demanding conditions, as skippers race 2,800 miles against the prevailing winds across the North Atlantic. As the fleet close on the Newfoundland coast, the threat of icebergs adds to the exhausted skippers’ stress levels.

The Notice of Race will be published in May, defining the other invited classes, exact course, dates and conditions. See www.thetransat.com 

Pictures: Benoit Stichelbaut/DPP