Summer Storm Batters OSTAR

A number of competitors had to be rescued this past June when a powerful summer storm struck the 15Thedition of the OSTAR, from Plymouth, England, to Newport, Rhode Island, lashing the 15-boat fleet with 60-knot winds and 50ft waves.

The TwoStar, a doublehanded transat race running simultaneously under the flag of the Royal Western Yacht Club, also fell victim, with at least one boat sunk and two more having to be scuttled.

U.S. sailor Kass Schmidt was the only woman in this year’s OSTAR

At press time, only five singlehanded sailors had finished or remained in the OSTAR. Similarly, only two boats out of the original fleet of six managed to avoid