The Azores and Back Race (AZAB) was founded in 1975 as an amateur OSTAR (Observer Singlehanded Transatlantic Race). The OSTAR is a singlehanded race across the Atlantic which started in 1968 . It takes about a month each way for a small boat. Most ‘amateurs’ are unable to take the three months out and so the AZAB was started by the Royal Cornwall Yacht Club. The AZAB, at two and a half thousand miles only takes about ten days each way and so only requires a month to complete.		In the Azores, competitors are guests of the Clube Naval de Ponta Delgada and it is compulsory to spend a minimum of forty eight hours in Sao Miguel before starting the return race. In practice, since the return has a start date seventeen days after the start in Falmouth, most competitors will spend about a week in Sao Miguel unless lack of wind has caused a very slow passage. The finish is back in Falmouth but the prize giving will be at the Southampton Boat Show in September.
	Like the OSTAR, the AZAB is considered to be a seriously gruelling race and as such is only held every four years. It is also limited to seventy entries. To be eligible to enter, each boat must not only be sailed with one or two people, but must also complete a five hundred mile qualifying passage within two years of the start with her racing crew. This qualifying passage must be primarily off-shore. James and Henry entered and won the Falmouth 500 as their qualifying passage The Race is hosted by The Royal Cornwall Yacht Club and starts from Falmouth in Cornwall. After a mark in Falmouth Bay, to ensure that all boats are seen from the shore, it continues by way of Finnistere to Ponta Delgada, Island of Sao Miguel in the Azores.