 Official logo of the 2011 Fastnet Race | |
| First held | 1925 |
|---|---|
| Start | Cowes |
| Finish | |
| Champion |
|
| Website | rolexfastnetrace |
TheFastnet Race is a biennial offshoreyacht race organized by theRoyal Ocean Racing Club (RORC) of theUnited Kingdom with the assistance of theRoyal Yacht Squadron inCowes and the City ofCherbourg in France.
The race is named after theFastnet Rock off southernIreland, which the race course rounds. Along withSydney to Hobart Yacht Race and theNewport-Bermuda Race, it is considered one of the classic big offshore races with each distance approximately 625 nautical miles (719 mi; 1,158 km), testing both inshore and offshore skills, boat and crew preparation and speed potential. From its inception, the Fastnet Race has proven highly influential in the growth of offshore racing and remains closely linked to advances in yacht design,sailing technique and safety equipment.
The Fastnet Race has been sponsored by theSwiss watch manufacturing companyRolex since 2001. The Race prize is known as the Fastnet Challenge Cup.
The race's main focus is on monohull handicap racing, which is presently conducted under theRoyal Ocean Racing Club's ownIRC Rating Rule, which is awarded the overall trophy. However, the race has recently opened to more classes, including multihulls and providing one design class starts for theVolvo Ocean Race Class,IMOCA 60 andClass40. It has also seen an increase in participation in double-handed racing.
The Fastnet is a challenging race. Taking place in August, the race is often provided with Westerlies that are strong to gale force in strength. The succession oflow pressure systems which advance on Ireland and Britain across theNorth Atlantic Ocean provide a constantly moving weather pattern for which Fastnet navigators must plan. Thesedepressions are mostly centered north of the English Channel. Knowledge of where meteorological disturbances are likely to occur, and how best to use them, is key to success in the race.
The Fastnet Race took place every two years over a course of 608 nautical miles (1,126 km; 700 mi). The race started offCowes on theIsle of Wight on the south coast ofEngland at theRoyal Yacht Squadron. Leavingthe Solent throughthe Needles Channel, the race followed the southern coastline of England westward down theEnglish Channel before roundingLand's End. After crossing theCeltic Sea, the race rounded theFastnet Rock off the southwest coast ofIreland. Returning on a largely reciprocal course, the race rounded theIsles of Scilly before finishing atPlymouth.
The Royal Western Yacht Club, which supported the RORC with the finish of the race in Plymouth, now runs a race on the original course.[1]
The race starts off theRoyal Yacht Squadron start line ofCowes on theIsle of Wight on the south coast ofEngland at theRoyal Yacht Squadron. Leavingthe Solent throughthe Needles Channel, the race follows the southern coastline of England westward down theEnglish Channel, before roundingLand's End. After crossing theCeltic Sea, the race rounds theFastnet Rock off the southwest coast ofIreland. Returning on a largely reciprocal course, the race rounds theIsles of Scilly before finishing atCherbourg.
The finish was changed toCherbourg from Plymouth in order to accommodate increased fleet sizes. Facilities at Plymouth were cited by organizers as one of the main reasons for the change.[2] This was not universally welcomed due to the nearly 100 year heritage of the course and race. This change also increases the course distance to over 700 nautical miles (1,300 km).
Coastal landmarks passed along the route include:The Needles,Portland Bill,Start Point,The Lizard,Land's End, theFastnet Rock,Bishop's Rock off Scilly, and Cherbourg breakwater.
Weston Martyr, a British yachtsman, conceived the idea of the race after having competed inBermudian yacht races. Entered by seven vessels, the inaugural Fastnet Race was won byJolie Brise in 1925.[3]Hugh Grosvenor, 2nd Baron Stalbridge won in 1927 withTally Ho over a field of 15 starters which was eventually whittled down by stormy weather to two finishers.[3] The race ran annually until 1931, and subsequently biennially apart from a break after 1939 during World War II, resuming in 1947.[citation needed] The original rules limited the class toThames Measurement, and size to between 30ft and 50ft WL maximum. Yachts of theInternational Class rule were specifically excluded because they were regarded as unsuitable for the blue waters of the Atlantic Ocean.[3]
A severeEuropean windstorm during the1979 race resulted in the deaths of 21 people (15 competing yachtsmen and 6 observers)[4] and the involvement of some 4,000 others in what became the largest-ever rescue operation in peacetime. The disaster led to a major overhaul of the rules and the equipment required for the competition.[5][6] Several books have since been written about the 1979 race, which remains notorious in the yachting world for its loss of life.[5][7][8] In the 1979 race, "15 sailors died, five boats sank, and at least 75 boats flipped upside down".[6]
The race drew further attention from outside the sport in 1985 when themaxi yachtDrumcapsized after thekeel sheared off due to a design error. The boat was helmed by the New Zealander Phil Holland, brother of its designerRon Holland. Pop starSimon Le Bon fromDuran Duran, co-owner and crew member ofDrum, was trapped under thehull with five other crew members for twenty minutes, until being rescued by theRoyal Navy. The Search and Rescue Diver was Petty Officer Air Crewman (POACMN) Larry "Scouse" Slater of771 Naval Air Squadron who appeared onThis Is Your Life on 9 April 1986.[9]
Many of the fleet contestants experienced a totalsolar eclipse in the Celtic Sea on the way to the Fastnet Rock.[10]
The RORC in 2007 set an entry limit of 300 boats for the first time. The start of the 2007 Race was postponed by 25 hours, due to a severe weather warning. This was the first time this had been done in the race's 83-year history. Overnightgale force winds and resulting extreme seas forced over three-quarters of the boats to retire, sheltering in ports along the south coast of England, includingTorbay,Plymouth andWeymouth.
By 10:00hrs on 16 August, 207 boats of the 271-strong field had retired with at least three suffering rig problems.[11][12]
Despite the conditions, Mike Slade'sIcap Leopard 3, launched in June 2007, set a new record of 44 hours 18 min, taking almost 9 hours off the previous record set in 1999. Ger O'Rourke'sChieftain was the overall winner on corrected time.
A record number of 320 boats entered the 2011 race – the largest total since the ill-fated 1979 race (303 entries). A total of nineteen nations were represented, with the bulk of entries still from Britain and France.
In 2011, the 100-footcanting keel racing sloopRambler 100 designed byJuan Kouyoumdjian[13][14]turtled after her keel broke off betweenFastnet Rock and thePantaenius Buoy (a temporary race mark placed southwest of the Fastnet Rock[15]). "Shortly after the turn her canting keel snapped off just below the hull exit causing her to capsize, in less than 60 seconds."[16] All 21 crew were rescued safely. Sixteen were rescued from the upturned hull, by the RNLIBaltimore Lifeboat[17]Hilda Jarrett. A further 5 crewmembers, including the American owner/skipperGeorge David, had floated away from the vessel, but managed to link themselves together. They were in the water for approximately 2.5 hours, before being rescued by aBaltimore, Ireland based diving vessel,Wave Chieftain. One of these crewmembers, Wendy Touton, sufferedhypothermia and was taken by helicopter toTralee General Hospital.[18] Four crew-members had been below decks at the time of capsize and were not adequately dressed for egress into the sea. All uninjured crew were taken to Baltimore.[19] TheNaval Service patrol shipLÉ Aoife remained with the hull, worth $10,000,000 before the capsize, before it was towed toBarleycove by theCastletownbere-based tugOcean Bank.[20][21] On 25 October 2011US Sailing published an inquiry into the failure, which recommended "changes to theISAF Offshore Special Regulations to require boats withmovable ballast to have ready escape capability and safety equipment accessible if the boat becomes inverted." It also recommended "several changes to offshore racing regulations and procedures including full implementation of required ISAF Survival Training in the US for offshore sailors."[16]
The Fastnet Monohull Race record was set at 42hrs 39min by Volvo Open 70Abu Dhabi, skippered by Ian Walker.
Plymouth Yacht Haven was selected as host port. RORC increased the number of entries to meet demands. The entry limit of 300 filled within 24 hours, and over 100 boats were on the waiting list with entries from multihulls, IMOCA 60s and Class 40s.[22]
Jolie Brise also returned to race in 2013 on her Centenary year, arriving back in port just as the medal ceremony was taking place.
Winners (the following results are to be considered provisional):IRC Overall:Night And Day, a JPK 10.10 owned by Pascal Loison;MOCRA Multihull: Oman Air -Musandam, a MOD 70 class trimaran owned by Sidney Gavignet.
The 340-boat registration limit was reached in 4 minutes and 24 seconds setting a new record.
IRC Overall:Courrier Du Leon, aJPK 10.10 owned by Géry Trentesaux.
MOCRA Multihull:Spindrift 2 aVPLP owned by Yann Guichard and Dona Bertarelli.
Line Honours: 2 Days 15 Hours 42 Minutes -Comanche - VPLP/Verdier 100Super Maxi owned by Jim and Kristy Hinze Clark, skippered by Ken Read
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The 2017 Fastnet Race started on 6 August 2017 and featured all 2017-2018 Volvo Ocean Race Teams. Yachts longer than 100 feet were also allowed to race.[25]
Winners:[26]
IRC Overall:Lann Ael 2, aJuan Kouyoumdjian designed 39-footer owned by Didier Gaudoux.
MOCRA Multihull:Concise 10 a MOD 70 class trimaran owned by Tony Lawson.
Line Honours: 1 Day 18 hours and 55 minutes –Concise 10 – MOD 70 owned by Tony Lawson, skippered by Ned Collier Wakefield.
The 2019 Fastnet Race started on 3 August 2019.[27] For the first time, boats not following the IRC standard were allowed to enter the competition.[28] All entries were filled within four minutes and 37 seconds when entry opened on 7 January.[28]
SkipperFranck Cammas took Multihullline honours, despite running aground within the first few hours. This was the first sub-30 hour run, beatingLoick Peyron and the crew ofBanque Populaire's 2011 time by 4h 45m. TheMacif ofFrancois Gabbart lost the line honours by only 58 seconds, having led just minutes in prior. In third place, was theSodebo Ultim 3 ofThomas Coville.[29]
The adjusted time race was won byWizard, aVolvo Open 70, owned by David and Peter Askew and sailed byCharlie Enright.[30]
2021 was the first year where the race finish was inCherbourg. It started on 8 August 2021 in a strong south westerly breeze.
Winners:[31]
IRC Overall:Sunrise, a JPK 1180 owned by Thomas Kneen and navigated by Tom Cheney and Suzy Peters
MOCRA Multihull:Allegra, a 84 ft Nigel Irens designed catamaran sailed by Adrian Keller
IMOCA 60:Apivia sailed by Charlie Dalin and Paul Meilhat
Themonohull race record is 42 hrs 39 min, set byIan Walker'sVolvo Open 70Abu Dhabi (UAE) in 2011. The other twoVolvo Open 70 participating in the 2011 Fastnet Race (Groupama 4 andTeam Sanya) also broke the previous record, which had been set by ICAP Leopard in 2007.
The multihull race record is currently 28h 02m 26s byMaxi Edmond de Rothschild. SkipperFranck Cammas took Multihullline honours on 4 August 2019, despite running aground within the first few hours. This was the first sub-30 hour run, beatingLoick Peyron and the crew ofBanque Populaire's 2011 time by 4h 45m. TheMACIF ofFrancois Gabbart lost the line honours by only 58 seconds, having led just minutes prior.[29]
The World Speed Sailing Record Council also recognises the course record for anofficial record, which is currently held byMaserati, aMOD 70 skippered by Giovanni Soldini, on 21 May 2021 in a time of 23 hrs, 51 mins and 16 secs, beating the previous record by more than one hour and bringing the record under 24 hours.[32]
In 2021 the course was changed to being from Cowes toCherbourg in France via the Fastnet Rock.
| Year | Elapsed Time | Skipper | Yacht | Designer | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 1d 16h 27m | Loick Peyron | Fujicolor | ORMA 60 trimaran | |
| 2001 | |||||
| 2003 | |||||
| 2005 | |||||
| 2007 | |||||
| 2009 | |||||
| 2011 | 1d 08h 48m 46s | Loick Peyron |  Banque Populaire V | VPLP | |
| 2013 | 1d 14h 53m 58s | Yann Guichard &Dona Bertarelli | Spindrift 2 | VPLP | |
| 2015 | 2d 10h 57m 41s | Yann Guichard &Dona Bertarelli | Spindrift 2 | VPLP | |
| 2017 | 1d 18h 55m 00s | Ned Collier Wakefield |  Concise 10 | MOD 70 Tri -VPLP | |
| 2019 | 1d 04h 02m 26s | Cyril Dardashti | Gitana 17 | 100 ft Ultime Tri -Guillaume Verdier | |
| 2021 | 1d 9h 14m 54s | Cyril Dardashti | Maxi Edmond De Rothschild | Ultim 32/33 | [41] |
| 2023 | 1d 08h 38m 27s | François Gabart | SVR Lazartigue | Ultim 32/33 -VPLP | [42] |
| 2025 | 1d 17h 18m 04s | Tom Laperche (FRA) Amélie Grassi (FRA) Antoine Gautier (FRA) Emilien Lavigne (FRA) Franck Cammas (FRA) Peter Burling (NZL) | SVR Lazartigue | Ultim 32/33 -VPLP | [43] |
| Year | Sail No. | Yacht Name | Sailors | Design | Elapsed Time | Finisher | Starters | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | GBR 30 | Initiatives Saveurs - Novedia Group | Tanguy de Lamotte (FRA) Liz Wardley (PNG)Guillaume Le Brec | 2007 / Rogers / CMI | 3d 15h 19m 30s | 18 | 19 | [44] |
| 2011 | GBR 30 | Initiatives - Alex Olivier | Tanguy de Lamotte (FRA) Thomas GAVERIAUX Tanguy LEGLATIN David SINEAU | 2007 / Rogers / CMI | 3d 14h 17m 28s | 17 | 20 | |
| 2013 | FRA 130 | GDF SUEZ | Sebastien Rogues (FRA) Arthur Le Vaillant Fabien Delahaye Bertrand Castelnerac | 2013 / Manuard / Mach 40 | 3d 03h 18m 30s | 17 | 19 | [45] |
| 2015 | ESP 123 | Tales II |  Gonzalo Botin (ESP)+Crew | 2013 / Botin / Longditud 0 | 3d 09h 17m 22s | 22 | 23 | [46] |
| 2017 | FRA 144 | V And B | Maxime Sorel (FRA) Antoine CARPENTIER Sam Manuard (FRA)Jonas GERCKENS | 2015 / Manuard / Mach 40.3 | 3d 03h 22m 27s | 23 | 26 | [47] |
| 2019 | FRA 153 | Lamotte - Module Création | Luke Berry (GBR) Corentin Douguet (FRA) Frédéric Denis (FRA) Arnaud Berland (FRA) | 2018 / Manuard / Mach 40.3 | 2d 11h 13m 22s | 15 | 19 | [48] |
| 2021 | FRA 160 | Palanad 3 | Antoine Magre (FRA) Will Harris (GBR) James Crampton (GBR) Damien Arnol (FRA) | 2020 / Manuard / Mach 40.4 | 3d 10h 27m 25s | 26 | 32 | [49] |
| 2023 | FRA 177 | Everial | Erwan Le Draoulec (FRA) Julien Hereu (FRA) Pep Costa (FRA) Robin Follin (FRA) | 2022 / Verdier / Pogo S4 | 03d 10h 22m 02s | 17 | 21 | [50] |
| 2025 | FRA209 | FAITES SNSM.ORG | Corentin Douguet (FRA) Axel Trehin (FRA) Rodrigue Cabaz (FRA) Laurent Pruvost (FRA) | 2025 / Lombard / Lift V3 | 03d 10h 02m 01s | 23 | 23 |
| Year | Starters | Finisher | Elapsed Time | Sailors | Sail No. | Yacht Name | Design | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 13 | 12 | 3 - 11:42:13 | Jean-Pierre Dick (FRA) | FRA06 | Virbac-Paprec | [51] | |
| 2007 | 9 | 14 | 2 - 02:17:44 | Vincent Riou (FRA) | FRA 85 | PRB (3) | ||
| 2009 | 11 | 11 | 2 - 17:00:15 | Sebastien Josse (FRA) | 888 | BT | 2007 - Farr | |
| 2011 | 6 | 6 | 1 - 23:21:27 | Vincent Riou (FRA) | FRA 85 | PRB (4) | ||
| 2013 | 7 | 7 | 2 - 19:22:19 | Francois Gabart (FRA) Michel Desjoyeaux (FRA) | FRA 301 | MACIF | ||
| 2015 | 8 | 9 | 3 - 00:09:53 | Vincent Riou (FRA) Nicolas Andrieu Sebastien Col +Others | FRA 85 | PRB (4) | [52] | |
| 2019 | 18 | 20 | 2 - 01:32:28 | Skipper - Jeremie Beyou (FRA) Co-Skipper - Christopher Pratt (FRA)Crew 1 - Crew 2 - Crew 3 - | FRA 8 | Charal | 2019 VPLP | [53][54] |
| 2021 | 11 | 12 | 2 - 16:51:24 | Charlie Dalin (FRA) Paul Meilhat (FRA) | FRA79 | Apivia | 2019 Verdier | |
| 2023 | 27 | 29 | 2 - 07:16:26 | Charlie Dalin (FRA) Pascal Bidégorry (FRA) | FRA79 | MACIF | 2023 Verdier | [55] |
| 2025 | 6 | 7 | 2 - 14:07:05 | Elodie Bonafous (FRA) Basile Bourgnon (FRA) Gaston Morvan (FRA) UNKNOWN (FRA) | FRA62 | Queguiner | 2025 Verdier |
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