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#JamieBoag - Volvo Ocean Race team commercial boss Jamie Boag was honoured for his contributions to sailing at the Atlantic Youth Trust's conference and dinner in Galway last weekend, as the Galway Independent reports.

The commercial director of Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing – winners of the most recent Volvo Ocean Race – received the trust's Lifetime Achievement Award for his work with its Irish-flavoured predecessor Green Dragon Racing, as well as his hand in bringing the world's most gruelling ocean yacht race to Galway.

Also on the evening last Saturday (12 March), the Galway Independent contributed €5,000 towards a seed fund to develop a bursary for youth sail trainees in the West of Ireland, along the lines of those already established in Drogheda and West Cork.

The day's conference also saw discussions and workshops on the trust's plans to build a new tall ship for Ireland, as previously reported on Afloat.ie.

Published in Ocean Race

#vor – After 19 days & 3,000 miles sailed in the first leg of the Volvo Ocean Race, the top three teams can still see each other as they approach Cape Town, south Africa and the end of leg one. Irish sailors on two leading teams are blogging about their latest experiences including some good insights from Abu Dhabi Team Director Jamie Boag from Belfast, here.

Also giving a picture of life on board Team Vestas is Brian Carlin, the onboard reporter from County Kerry. His latest onboard account is here

Abu Dhabi, Team Brunel and Team Vestas Wind are locked against each other with Dongfeng Race Team just 17NM further adrift.

It is unlikely that any boat will gybe away from their starboard course, as this will take them into less wind and point back at North Africa.

Matt Knighton, the OBR onboard Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing, commented: "One might think that after 19 days of racing and being thousands of miles from land we're surprised to see another boat so close. To be honest, we're not.

"The shock of how close this one-design racing is has worn off. After the earlier battle down the African coast, it's not surprising to see one or even two sails keeping pace with you for a very, very long time."

Dongfeng is the most inside boat but, as we have been saying for some days, those closest to the high would trade wind speed for shift.

Right now the trade is not looking like a good one as the lifted inside shift is not paying them with enough wind speed to make the deal work.

Team Alvimedica is on the opposite side of the coin: more wind less shift. Lets see who is right.

Team Vestas Wind is the stalking horse here. So far from passing Fernando, navigator Wouter Verbraak has looked at times like he has lost the plot and others like a tactical genius. Right now, Wouter is looking more right then wrong.

Meantime, at the back of the fleet, it's been tough work.

Team SCA has dropped off the pack in a lot less wind while MAPRFE has been struggling too after suffering water ingress and some electrical issues.

Published in Ocean Race

Mixed Two Person Offshore Keelboat

For the first time in sailing's Olympic history, a Mixed Two Person Offshore Keelboat event will be on the slate at the Paris 2024 Olympic Sailing Competition.

The Mixed Two Person Offshore Keelboat will join kiteboarding, windsurfing, multihulls, singlehanded and doublehanded dinghies and skiffs, promoting the diversity of the sport. This, in turn, will support World Sailing's desire to promote and grow universality in all disciplines and increase female participation with gender-equal medals and athletes.

Offshore sailing is the ultimate test of endurance, skill, discipline, navigation and critical decision making.

Embracing a major part of sailing in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games will enable new stars of the sport to come to the forefront.

Qualification

Offshore sailing is a universal discipline that every World Sailing Member National Authority (MNA) can participate in.

Up to 20 nations will be on the start line at Paris 2024 and sailors from every continent will be represented. To qualify for the Olympic Games, continental qualification events will be held and competition for a spot will be hotly contested.

Equipment

For qualification events, World Sailing will approve a list of one-design boats that are already regionally available and can be accessed as a charter boat. Boats will be equalised to ensure fair competition.

For Paris 2024, World Sailing's Council will select a list of different Equipment it considers to meet the key criteria by 31 December 2020 and then make a decision on the Equipment, selecting from the list, no later than 31 December 2023.

MNAs, Class Associations and Manufacturers have all been invited to propose Equipment for the list and a World Sailing Working Party will evaluate each proposal. A recommended list will be presented to Council for approval in November 2020.

This recommended Equipment list will ensure that event organisers, MNAs and the sailors have opportunities to train and compete in Equipment that is readily available and affordable within their continent and country. It will also ensure each MNA has a fair opportunity to prepare for qualification events and eventually, Paris 2024.

Format

Starting and finishing in Marseille, the Mixed Offshore event is expected to last for either three days and two nights or four days and three nights off the French coastline and whoever crosses the finish line first will be declared Olympic champion.

The race course and length will be announced in the lead up to the start so the competition can take advantage of the latest weather forecast. Current options proposed include long and short courses heading towards the West and East of France.

Safety and Security

The French Navy and Mediterranean forces have extensive experience of supporting major oceanic sailing races. They will provide safety and security at Paris 2024.