For example, in the United States, Australia and Britain - bastions of offshore sailing - the three most prominent ocean races are decidedly similar.

The International J/80 is a fixed keel One-Design sportsboat certified for offshore sailing, normally crewed by 3 to 5 people.

In this world of rugged offshore sailing, it seems only de Kersauson believes three hulls are better than two.

At 57, de Kersauson is the elder statesman of the French offshore sailing scene.

The academy maintains a sailing fleet of over 150 vessels to support the offshore sailing and dinghy sailing teams, in addition to the summer sail training programs.

The Boat is made for offshore sailing.

While the index is designed to make the boats safer for offshore sailing, it has added an extra burden on owners, Barker said.

That year, looking "to find some interesting things to do," Fossett decided to take up long-distance ballooning and offshore sailing.

The Australian Three Peaks Race is a short-handed offshore sailing and endurance mountain running event held in Tasmania, the southern-most state of Australia, over the Easter long weekend.

But not one of us questioned the validity of single-handed offshore sailing.