Four Ostar veterans are signed up for the solo race week that kicks off in Weymouth on August 20th. Dutch skipper Nico Budel won Ostar 2005 in his canting keel open 40, Mary Falk with three Transats to her name holds the 35ft record in her very special water ballasted QII. Stuart Macdonald heads up a trio of the only water ballasted JOD 35’s that should provide good competition for the J boats and Figaros in breezy conditions.

The course is a series of testing passage races calling at Bray, St Peter Port, Treguier, Fowey and Mylor. The longest leg is 100 miles overnight to Fowey and the regatta rounds off with a day race and BBQ at Mylor on Saturday 26th August. The stopovers have been chosen for their hospitality to ensure the customary standard of socialising that is a hallmark of short-handed racing.

Race Director Paul Peggs has been very busy with a record entry of 26 boats and he will renew acquaintance with several skippers fresh from the Round Britain race and welcome skippers trying solo offshore racing for the first time.

The members of Racing at Petit Bateau Ltd have carved a niche as organisers of Open class solo racing in the UK waters, this is their third solo race week and follows on the very successful first edition of RIOW SOLO around the Isle of Wight race in May. Longer races are planned for the future with a 700 mile 14 day event in 2007 and the ‘Big One’ in 2008 that will include a 500-mile solo leg for Ostar qualification within a 1200 Biscay route.

Details and entry on line at www.petitbateau.org.uk