Lorient Grand Large confirmed as host of 2024 Offshore Double Handed World Championship

The 2024 Offshore Double Handed World Championships will be a mixed event run jointly between three organisations, each bringing their expertise to deliver the event. Lorient Grand Large will assume the leadership role for the organising group, while RORC will deliver the race management and Yacht Club de France will bring their network of volunteers and control of the one–design rules. 

The agreement with World Sailing covers three World Championships, with the event moving to Cowes on the Isle of Wight in 2025, and then to a venue to be confirmed in 2026.

David Graham, World Sailing CEO, said, “Offshore racing is a priority in World Sailing’s ambitions to grow the sport globally. The explosive growth in Double Handed Offshore racing in recent years has been very exciting for the sport overall. The Sun Fast 30 One Design has the potential to be the ideal class to fulfil our goal of making the event accessible to amateurs, professionals, and a new generation of offshore racers from all over the world.  

“This is a really exciting event concept and, in time, it will make this part of the sport more accessible, sustainable and environmentally-friendly. My thanks go to the event partners, and the Oceanic and Offshore Committee under the leadership of Matt Allen for making this happen.”

A collaboration between Jeanneau and Multiplast, the fleet of Sun Fast 30 One Design will be supplied by Cap Regatta. It is one of the first production model sailboats built from a recyclable resin, which highlights the latest developments in sustainable boat building. The Sun Fast 30 One Design is an affordable one design boat with confirmed worldwide orders of over 40 boats to be produced in 2024. It is comparable with the majority of double-handed boats around the globe, meaning it will be accessible to sailors already accustomed to double handed offshore racing. The selection of the boat and the event organisers was the result of a World Sailing tender process endorsed by the Oceanic and Offshore Committee as the expert World Sailing Committee. 

Lorient Grand Large has been a centre of excellence for competitive sailing since 1997. It is home to elite level teams in the Ultim, IMOCA and Ocean 50 classes, as well as the Mini 6.50, Figaro, Class40. The venue has hosted several major events in recent years, including The Ocean Race, Solitaire du Figaro, and the Retour à La Base.