diff --git a/rowers/views.py b/rowers/views.py
index 41277afc..b38b3bf3 100644
--- a/rowers/views.py
+++ b/rowers/views.py
@@ -13672,15 +13672,27 @@ def virtualevent_create_view(request):
                 dotweet = False
             else:
                 dotweet = True
-            sa = SiteAnnouncement(
-                announcement = "New Virtual Race on rowsandall.com: {name} on course {course}".format(
-                    name = name,
-                    course = course.name.encode('utf8')
+            try:
+                sa = SiteAnnouncement(
+                    announcement = "New Virtual Race on rowsandall.com: {name} on course {course}".format(
+                        name = name.encode('utf8'),
+                        course = course.name.encode('utf8')
                     ),
-                dotweet = dotweet
+                    dotweet = dotweet
                 )
 
-            sa.save()
+                sa.save()
+            except UnicodeEncodeError:
+                sa = SiteAnnouncement(
+                    announcement = "New Virtual Race on rowsandall.com: {name} on course {course}".format(
+                        name = name,
+                        course = str(course.name.encode('utf8','ignore'))
+                    ),
+                    dotweet = dotweet
+                )
+                
+
+                sa.save()
 
             url = reverse(virtualevents_view)
             return HttpResponseRedirect(url)