Sailors competing in the Royal Western Yacht Club’s OSTAR (single-handed) and TWOSTAR (double-handed) Trans-Atlantic races were slammed last Friday, June 9, by a storm that packed 60-knot winds and pushed seas to 50 feet.
The fleet departed Plymouth, England, on May 29, bound for the finish in Newport, Rhode Island.
Practical Boat Owner reports that the crews aboard three of the boats — one of which sank — had to be rescued. The Canadian coast guard in Halifax, Nova Scotia, coordinated vessel and air support to the yachts in distress. There were no injuries reported.
This video by CBC News has more:
Thirteen of the 21 yachts that started the races have retired. The remainder of the fleet is expected to start arriving in Newport on Wednesday.
