Thank you for your interest in the new Olympic Mixed Offshore Double-handed event and the US Sailing Team’s focus on this exciting discipline at the 2024 Olympic Games. As this new Olympic event is evolving, details and plans are in development and regularly updated by both World Sailing and US Sailing.
Dec 17, 2020 UPDATE:
At the December 7, 2020 International Olympic Committee (IOC) Executive Board meeting, the IOC announced that they would like to further review the Mixed Two Person Offshore Keelboat Event in order to properly assess the key considerations around safety and security of the athletes. The specific event proposal will be decided as soon as practicably possible but no later than 31 May 2021.
As a result, selection procedures for both the US Sailing Team (USST) and 2021 Offshore World Championship are on hold until the IOC makes a final decision on the Mixed Two Person Offshore Keelboat Event.
Nov 9, 2020 UPDATE:
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At the 2020 World Sailing Conference, Submission 030-20 was the subject of much discussion. It defines the equipment criteria and sets out the process for selecting the equipment for the Mixed Two Person Keelboat Offshore Event at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Three Committees had recommended its approval, and Council voted to approve it.
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In recognition that this new discipline needs organization, World Sailing’s Offshore Committee proposed that “World Sailing recognize a partnership between World Sailing and the Offshore Doubles Association to promote the Event and, more broadly, the discipline of double handed offshore racing.” More information about the Offshore Doubles Association can be found HERE.
- Any boat that holds a current USA-issued ORC certificate may apply for an ORC Double Handed certificate at no additional cost. For information and more details please contact offshore@ussailing.org
Numerous events are already on the calendar for the 2020 season.
Offshore Yacht Race event organizers should review World Sailing's latest guidance document, updated 8/9/20:
Additionally, World Sailing has a dedicated health section on their website to better support athletes and all sailing event organizers and sailing communities. The purpose is to help the sailing community to follow advice provided by the Medical Commission.
When registering for these events, pay close attention to the NOR, as there may be special safety requirements and procedures in order to successfully train and compete in the Mixed Offshore Doublehanded division.
Resources to satisfy potential safety requirements:
2021 Mixed Offshore Doublehanded Events
Blackline Patos Island Race | Sidney North Saanich Yacht Club, Sidney, BC | April 10-11, 2021
Newport to Ensenada International Yacht Race | Newport Beach, CA | April 23, 2021
Protection Island Race | Seattle Yacht Club, Seattle, WA | April 24-25, 2021
Race to the Straits | Sloop Tavern Yacht Club, Seattle, WA | May 1-2, 2021
Round Whidbey | Oak Harbor Yacht Club, Oak Harbor, WA | May 15-16, 2021
Block Island Race | May 28, 2021
Bermuda One-Two | June 4, 2021
Annapolis to Newport Race | June 4-5, 2021
PNW Offshore | Corinthian Yacht Club of Portland, Ilwaco, WA | June 10-13, 2021
Sailish 200 | Port Townsend, WA | June 19-20, 2021
Crew of 2 Around Catalina | Dates TBD (July 2021 or Sept 2021)
- Choice to enter either of two races the same day: Traditional 90 mile course from Newport Beach around Catalina Island or 67 mile course from same start/finish but around Ship Rock on the north side of Catalina Island
Transpac 2021 | July 13, 2021
Northern Century | Anacortes Yacht Club, Anacortes, WA | August 20-22, 2021
Annapolis Yacht Club Doublehanded Race | Annapolis Yacht Club, Annapolis, MD | October 2-3, 2020
For a full list of international events, please click HERE.
Additional information on international events can be found HERE.
- Event Debrief (YouTube video) - 2020 Annapolis Yacht Club Double Handed Distance Race
- Harvard University online course "Backyard Meteorology: The Science of Weather" - Free!
- Modern Race Navigation: Expedition Software in Action by Will Oxley
- Modern Marine Weather: From Time-honored Traditional Knowledge to the Latest Technology by David Burch
- Météo et stratégie: Croisière et course au large by Jean-Yves Bernot (available in French, Italian, and Spanish)
- Squid Sailing Weather Forecasting GRIB Files
- North U: "Expedition 101 Webinar"
- Adrena Navigation Software - Free Demo Version
- Windows only; be sure your computer has enough power to run the software
- Adrena Navigation Online Course (3 hours)
- Get it touch with people who know navigation better that you! There are many navigation experts out there stuck at home who can't wait to share their knowledge. Don't be afraid to ask!
- Online courses to prepare for the exams
- Sea Survival Handbook
- Prepare now for in-person classes as soon as they are available again
- First Aid at Sea (read and study at home to prepare for the in-person practical course)
- On-Board Medical Emergency Handbook: First Aid at Sea by Spike Briggs and Campbell Mackenzie
- Skipper's Medical Emergency Handbook by Spike Briggs and Campbell Mackenzie
- Harken How-To video (small winch but good concepts)
- Harken Tech Team from 2014/2015 Volvo Ocean Race stopover
- Premium Rope Splicing app (lots of tutorials)
- Premium Rope video tutorials
COVID Planning/Event Organizing
- World Sailing Addendum to Guidance for Event Organizers of Offshore Yacht Races (CVGEO)
- World Sailing's dedicated health section, designed to support athletes, sailing event organizers and sailing communities and help the sailing community to follow advice provided by the Medical Commission.
World Sailing's Council approved the selection process for the Paris 2024 Mixed Two Person Offshore Keelboat Event at the 2019 Annual Conference in Bermuda. Criteria for suitable Equipment will be published no later than 31 December 2020 and the Equipment for the Event will be selected no later than 31 December 2023.
The criteria for suitable Equipment for the qualification events will be published no later than 31 December 2020 and a list of Equipment that meets the qualification criteria shall be published no later than 31 December 2020. This list will guide event organisers and provide MNAs and sailors with opportunities to train and compete in Equipment that is readily available and affordable within their continent and country. It is expected that this criteria will give the widest possible choice of suitable Equipment for the Olympic Event, giving manufacturers the opportunity for their Equipment to be selected for Paris 2024.
For more information about 2024 Equipment Selection, please visit World Sailing's website.
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The Luca 30 will be raced at the 2021 Offshore World Championships.
For the first time in the history of the Olympic Games, a Mixed Two Person Offshore Keelboat Event will be at the Olympic Sailing Competition.
The Event will join Mixed Kiteboarding, Men's and Women's Windsurfing, Men's and Women's Skiff, Mixed Multihull, Men's and Women's One Person Dinghy and the Mixed Two Person Dinghy, promoting the diversity of the sport. The Paris 2024 Events and Equipment will grow universality and increase female participation in sailing.
Format
Starting and finishing in Marseille, the Mixed Two Person Offshore Keelboat Event is expected to last for either three days and two nights or four days and three nights off the Southern coast of France.
Jury decisions will be decided on the water meaning that whoever crosses the finish line first, will win gold.
The race course and length will be announced prior to the start so Race Officials can take advantage of the latest weather forecast. Race Officials will also have the ability to change the legs of the course in order to finish at a pre-determined time. Current course options proposed include long and short courses heading towards the West and East of France.
For more information about this new Olympic event, please visit World Sailing's website.
Nov 9, 2020 UPDATE:
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At the 2020 World Sailing Conference, Submission 030-20 was the subject of much discussion. It defines the equipment criteria and sets out the process for selecting the equipment for the Mixed Two Person Keelboat Offshore Event at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Three Committees had recommended its approval, and Council voted to approve it.
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In recognition that this new discipline needs organization, World Sailing’s Offshore Committee proposed that “World Sailing recognize a partnership between World Sailing and the Offshore Doubles Association to promote the Event and, more broadly, the discipline of double handed offshore racing.”
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Other Mixed Double Handed Offshore news:
- At the November 2018 Annual Conference, World Sailing voted to accept the Offshore double handed mixed gender discipline at the 2024 Games.
- World Sailing’s mid-year meeting laid out the draft plans, goals and focus of the event, the courses, potential boats and how and when the Games boat will be selected
- Further details on when equipment will be selected for the Games
- Scuttlebutt: "How Olympic Sailing will go Offshore" (Aug. 16, 2019)
- World Sailing's "Mixed Two Person Offshore - New Sailing Event at Paris 2024" video announcement (Aug 16, 2019)
- Scuttlebutt: "Developing the Paris 2024 Keelboat Event" - information about equipment selection RFP (February 17, 2020)
RORC Caribbean 600 | Antigua Yacht Club | February 22, 2021 - CANCELLED DUE TO COVID-19
Eleuthera Race | February 17, 2021
Fort Lauderdale to Key West Race | Lauderdale Yacht Club, Fort Lauderdale, FL | January 20-23, 2021
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2020 Mixed Offshore Doublehanded Events
64th Wirth M. Munroe Race to Palm Beach | Sailfish Club of Florida, Storm Trysail Club, Biscayne Bay Yacht Club | December, 4, 2020 - CANCELLED DUE TO COVID-19
Nassau Cup Ocean Race | Nassau Yacht Club | November 12-14, 2020
2020 Mixed Offshore World Championship | Malta | October 10-22 2020 - CANCELLED DUE TO COVID-19
- As of May 20, 2020, World Sailing cancelled the 2020 Offshore World Championship, due to be held alongside October’s Rolex Middle Sea Race in Valletta, Malta, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Due to the cancellation of the 2020 Offshore World Championship, US Sailing’s Selection Procedures for the event were declared void (as of May 20, 2020).
- In addition, as of June 5, 2020, the 2020 Chicago-Mackinac Race was cancelled as a result of COVID-19. The Chicago-Mackinac Race was originally part of US Sailing's Selection Procedures for the 2020 OffShore World Championships.
Annapolis Yacht Club Doublehanded Race | Annapolis Yacht Club, Annapolis, MD | October 3-4, 2020
Ida Lewis Distance Race | Ida Lewis Yacht Club, Newport, RI | August 15-16, 2020
2020 New England Solo/Twin | Newport Yacht Club, Newport, RI | July 24, 2020
2020 Around Long Island Regatta | Sea Cliff Yacht Club, Sea Cliff, NY | July 23 - 26, 2020 - CANCELLED DUE TO COVID-19
Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac | Chicago, IL | July 18, 2020 - CANCELLED DUE TO COVID-19
Berringer Bowl | Boston Yacht Club, Boston, MA | July 17-18, 2020
Oakcliff Test Event | Oakcliff Sailing Center, Oyster Bay, NY | July 13-14
2020 Bayview Mackinac Race | Detroit, MI | July 11, 2020
New Bedford Yacht Club Whalers Race | South Dartmouth, MA | June 27, 2020 - CANCELLED DUE TO COVID-19
Lambert Overnight Ocean Race | Eastern Yacht Club, Marblehead, MA | June 26, 2020 - CANCELLED DUE TO COVID-19
Atlantic Cup | June 10-21 CANCELLED DUE TO COVID-19
2020 Hempel World Cup Series Miami | January 22-25, 2020
- Fort Lauderdale to Key West Race
- Results
- Equipment: Ocean racing and cruising monohull boats who comply with the requirements of the ORC (Offshore Racing Congress):
- ORC Requirement: Boats must have an offshore long-distance time on time rating factor of 0.880 and lower.
2019 EUROSAF Mixed Offshore European Championship | Venice--Trieste, ITA | October 8-11, 2019
- US Athletes: Peter Becker and Barbara (Basia) Karpinska
- Equipment: L30
2019 Annapolis YC Double Handed Distance Race | September 28-29, 2019
- Results
- Equipment: J-105
Oakcliff Double Handed Melges 24 Distance Race | May 14-15, 2019
- Equipment: Melges 24s
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The 2024 Olympic Games Offshore event will take place off the coast of Marseille for a three day, two night race in a boat 6-10 meters long. The plan is to adjust the course so that no matter the breeze or sea state, the race will remain at two nights to finish in the daylight of the third day. While physical stamina is always important at this level of our sport, experience in shorthanded long-distance offshore racing will certainly prevail. This level of racing ensures that fitness, weather expertise, navigation, speed tuning, sail trim, seamanship, expert crewing, and helmsmanship for both members of the team, as well as an excellent campaign strategy and of course, commitment, will all come into play.
Certainly, this event appeals to a potentially new demographic of Olympic sailors, as an opportunity for Olympians, both elite small boat and offshore racers, younger athletes, and the more mature all to compete. For World Sailing’s video introduction to the event, click HERE.
The L-30, built in the Ukraine, has been selected as the boat for the 2019 Mixed Gender Doublehanded Offshore Europeans and the inaugural 2020 Offshore World Championships, held in Malta during the October 2020 Rolex Middle Sea Race. Despite this equipment selection, World Sailing has proposed waiting to announce the actual 2024 Offshore equipment, both boat and sails, until six-seven months before the Games. This ensures the focus of the event is on the teams’ talent and seamanship, not an arms race of finely tuned boats and rigs should the boat itself be prioritized over athlete training and preparation.
Sally Barkow - Olympian, Yachtswoman of the Year, World Champion and Volvo Race competitor:
"The new mixed gender offshore Olympic discipline is such a great advancement for our sport. Offshore sailing has the opportunity to provide an inclusive platform for many different sailors across all skill levels to get involved with the Olympic movement. We are really excited to embrace it here in the USA. Strong trimmers and drivers of all ages will have a chance to shine in the spotlight and enjoy developing as a double handed team while competing against the best in the world!”
Jonathan McKee - A valued member of the new Offshore Mixed Gender Committee. One of the few American sailors to bridge the worlds of Olympic and offshore sailing, he has won 2 Olympic Medals, coached at three Olympic Games, and competed successfully in the Mini Transat, Barcelona World Race, and Volvo Ocean Race:
“To all Olympic Aspirants:
If you think you can sail hard for 60 hours and have what it takes to be an offshore Olympian, now is your moment! This is going to be an amazing event, showcasing a completely different skill set than the other Olympic classes. You will need to be a good sailor, a fast helm, a good trimmer, and a smart coastal tactician. But you will also need to have the endurance and toughness to race hard for 2-3 days straight, and forge a close working relationship with your partner. If this is of interest to you, there will be opportunities to develop your program, some driven or supported by the US Sailing Team, others from your own initiative. If you think this could be for you, I would encourage you to GET STARTED TODAY! Find a way to develop the necessary skills and experience, find a partner. Get out on the water any way you can and align yourself with other like-minded sailors to make it more fun and efficient. If you need advice on how to do this, feel free to contact me or any of the expert coaches and staff on the USST. No excuses!”
Jonathan McKee
206-356 7952
Stan Honey - Chair of World Sailing Oceanic and Offshore Committee and winning navigator for numerous events such as the VOR 2005-6 and 24hr/Transatlantic multihull and monohull races:
“The Olympic Offshore Event will dramatically increase the visibility of sailing in the Olympics. It will be the longest endurance event in the entire Olympic Games, and the only event with two continuous days of 24-hour live internet feed. The scoring will be dead simple: the first boat into the Olympic Harbor wins Gold. The event will make Olympic sailing more relevant to existing sailors, as it will be closely related to the type of sailing pursued by over 50% of American sailors. Nobody knows whether age and experience will triumph over youth and energy! A good call on how to handle the inevitable wind transitions from nighttime drainage wind to afternoon seabreeze could make all the difference for the Gold, and the more experienced sailors might have the edge.”
Chris Groobey - Enthusiastic Annapolis YC member who provided support to their first Offshore mixed gender doublehand event:
“Offshore mixed gender doublehanded sailing is a great example of how the sport is evolving to support events that can be shared by not only the most dedicated Olympic sailors and alumni, but also local weekend warriors and everyone in between who is excited to be a part of it all!”
Dawn Riley - Was the CEO and captain of America True, and the first woman to manage an America’s Cup sailing team. She has raced on four America’s Cup and two Whitbread (now Volvo Ocean Race) teams and says:
“I see this new discipline as a tremendous boost to making Olympic sailing relevant to a whole new set of sailors. Both the young and more experienced can compete. Initially, I was skeptical about adding Offshore Sailing to the Games. But after hosting a test Offshore doublehand event at Oakcliff last May, with media and in Melges 24s slightly modified for offshore sailing, I realized it is not only possible, it is going to be cool.”
Allan Terhune - J/22 World and Lightning North American Champion, North Sails Salesman Annapolis AND enthusiastic potential campaigner:
“The new doublehanded distance event is very exciting! As someone in the marine industry, this growing segment of the sport worldwide is part of the future. It is something all of us are and should be working to support and get off the ground. As a sailor, this is a huge opportunity. I love the fact that I could do this with my wife and chase our Olympic aspirations, which is something we couldn’t do in any other class. We can’t wait to see how this event develops and grows in the future.”
Jay Kehoe - Waterfront Director of Chicago Yacht Club and spokesman for the Chicago Mackinac distance race 2020:
“The new Olympic offshore doublehanded discipline is so exciting for our sport. This can and will bring Olympic sailing to the common man and woman! While perhaps not be the goal of the Olympic Committee or World Sailing, it is the desperate shot in the arm our sport needs. With the plethora of current “short” offshore events that are always looking for entries, this discipline gives every man a chance to sail with and against the best on an almost level playing field. Athleticism is always an advantage! But my sense is smart sailing, good seamanship skills and good old-fashioned common sense will likely prevail in the early stages of the quadrennium. This will help focus our sport’s need to rally around our athletes, especially when this discipline makes it significantly easier to compete against the best! Look for the Chicago Mac Race, the Block Island Race and Newport to Bermuda Race to all focus and promote doublehanded sailing and racing. This type of racing can also be brought back to your local club and run some shorthanded racing! Good for the sport, and great for the USA!”
Stan Schreyer - North Sails sailmaker, long time Boston University head coach and potential offshore double handed mixed gender campaigner:
“I think the new Olympic Offshore discipline will be great for both Olympic Sailing and the sport as a whole, with a television-friendly format. In many ways, I think distance racing is easier for non-sailors to relate to: it is a battle against the elements as well as a competition with other boats. So, I think this will grow Sailing’s audience.”