Fastnet Yacht Race. News from the RORC Offshore Race Event

Britain's David Collins' Botin 52 Tala has a strong grip on IRC Zero

British Yachts Fight Back in the Fastnet Race

11th August 2021 Fastnet

In 2019 there was some embarrassment for the rest of the world with France ‘owning’ the Rolex Fastnet Race, winning nine of the 10 classes, albeit with the American Wizard team breaking the French-run of overall wins in the race…

The Judel-Vrolik-designed HH42 Oystercatcher (Richard Matthews) racing at Cork Week in 2014. Built in China, the HH42 is still extremely competitive, and INO XXX of this marque, owned by James Neville, is currently leading the IRC Division overall in the Fastnet Race with 30 miles to sail to the finish in light winds, but with a fair tide until 22:30 hrs

Fastnet Race 2021: The Tidal Streams of Cherbourg Move up the Fastnet Racing Agenda

11th August 2021 Fastnet

Day 4 1900: In the approaches to Cherbourg, the notorious tidal streams are running favourably for Fastnet Racers approaching from the west this evening until about 22:30 hrs, at which time smaller slower boats may find that a gate has…

Skorpios,the line honours winner in the 2021 Rolex Fastnet Race, was built by Killian Bushe of Cork Harbour

Cork Boat Builder Killian Bushe Praised for Role in ClubSwan 125 Skorpios Fastnet Race Success

11th August 2021 Fastnet

Irish boatbuilder Killian Bushe from Cork Harbour has been thanked by the Nautor Swan CEO for his role in the debut success of the massive ClubSwan 125 Skorpios that took monohull line honours in the49th edition of the Rolex Fastnet Race…

Rolex Fastnet Race victory in the IMOCA class for the hugely talented Charlie Dalin and Paul Meilhat on Apivia

Apivia – A Stand-Out Fastnet Race IMOCA Performance

11th August 2021 Fastnet

An exceptional example of an extraordinary boat paired up with a hugely talented crew has been the combination of Apivia with doublehanders Charlie Dalin and Paul Meilhat competing in this 49th Rolex Fastnet Race. They arrived in Cherbourg early this…

The 140ft Skorpios has the sun on her back and the breeze on her beam as she finishes as first mono-hull in the Rolex Fastnet Race at Cherbourg last night

Fastnet Race Big Boat Placings Change in Light Winds of Final Stage

11th August 2021 Fastnet

Day 4 0900: As Afloat reported last night, Dmitry Rybolovlev's ClubSwan 125 Skorpios took line honours in the Rolex Fastnet Race yesterday (Tuesday) evening, after crossing the finish line in Cherbourg at 2015 BST. Their total elapsed time for completing the…

Dmitry Rybolovlev’s ClubSwan 125 Skorpios took line honours in the Rolex Fastnet Race, completing the 695nm course in 2 days, 8 hours, 35 minutes and 5 seconds

Dmitry Rybolovlev's Skorpios Takes Fastnet Race Line Honours in Cherbourg

10th August 2021 Fastnet

Dmitry Rybolovlev’s ClubSwan 125 Skorpios took line honours in the Rolex Fastnet Race this evening, after crossing the finish line in Cherbourg at 2015 BST. Their total elapsed time for completing the 695 nautical mile course from Cowes to Cherbourg…

Rugged sailing exiting the Solent for the Murphy family's Grand Soleil 40 Nieulargo during the early stages of the Fastnet Race - the crew have been performing well in as much comfort as possible, while being notably well-fed

Irish Fastnet Race Contender Nieulargo from Royal Cork is Ahead of the Game for Souped-up Performance

10th August 2021 Fastnet

Day 3 1900: The early stages of the Fastnet Race 2021 on Sunday went from rugged to very rugged, and not surprisingly there were many retirals before the day was out. But aboard Nieulargo from Crosshaven, ace sailor Nicholas "Nin"…

Thomas Coville’s Sodebo Ultim 3 finished the Rolex Fastnet Race in Cherbourg on Tuesday morning (10 August), completing the 695nm course in 1d 20h 16m 36s

Slow Yachts in the Fastnet Race Are Past the Scillies

10th August 2021 Fastnet

Ironic after Sunday’s brutal start, less than 48 hours in and across the Rolex Fastnet Race fleet competitors have been struggling in light winds, especially around the Traffic Separation Scheme between Land’s End and the Scilly Isles and, for those…

A magic moment for every boat. The 140ft Skorpios – built by Killian Bushe from Cork – rounds the Fastnet Rock at 18;00 hrs yesterday (Monday) evening

Fastnet Race 2021: The Rich Get Richer

10th August 2021 Fastnet

Day 3 0900: The Rolex Fastnet Race 2021 has been continuing its theme of conditions seeming to favour the largest or the fastest boats. This may not mean that every biggie is doing well – far from it – but…

The Maxi Edmond de Rothschild crew celebrate their latest victory

New Fastnet Race Course Record Set By Maxi Edmond de Rothschild

9th August 2021 Fastnet

The extraordinary 32m long Ultime Maxi Edmond de Rothschild showed a clean pair of heels to the rest of the fleet in the 49th Rolex Fastnet Race arriving this evening (Monday 9 August) at 20:24:54 BST, setting a new record…

Leading the charge among the monohulls is of Russian Dmitry Rybolovlev’s mighty ClubSwan 125 Skorpios.

Fastnet Race: Developing Weather Pattern Continues to Favour Larger Boats as Pata Negra Gets Back on Top

9th August 2021 Fastnet

Fastnet Race Day 2 2000 - While offshore racers may learn to take things as they come, in the Fastnet Race it’s rather less than a barrel of laughs to slug to windward from Land’s End out to the Rock, and…

Maxi Edmond de Rothschild was first round the Fastnet Rock at 0800 BST in the Rolex Fastnet Race

Fastnet Race Ultimes Round West Cork's Fastnet Rock as Bulk of the Fleet Tackle Start Point

9th August 2021 West Cork

Despite a blustery start and first night at sea in the 49th Rolex Fastnet Race, competitors have been making good progress west down the English Channel, with the bulk of the fleet at breakfast time this morning south of Start…

In the depleted Figaro III two-hands class (just three boats still racing) Dun Laoghaire’s Kenneth Rumball crewed by Gresystones' Pam Lee has regained the lead with RL sailing, putting in an impressive showing

Desert Star is Best Irish for Class Place as France's IMOCA 60 Apivia Demonstrates Success of Broad Thinking

9th August 2021 Fastnet

Fastnet Race Day 2 0830 - Irish Offshore Sailing’s school ship, the veteran Sunfast 37 Desert Star from Dun Laoghaire sailed by Ronan O’Siochru and Conor Totterdell, emerges this morning with the best current Irish class place in the Rolex…

The Rolex Fastnet Race 2021 start off Cowes

Irish Sea Crew on Pata Negra Leading Fastnet Race into the Night

8th August 2021 Fastnet

Heading into the hyper challenging first night of the Rolex Fastnet Race 2021, noted ISORA skipper Andrew Hall of Pwllheli with the Lombard 45 Pata Negra - a boat which has brought success to Irish crews in major races on…

A fleet of 337 boats leave the Solent, bound for Ireland's Fastnet Rock in the 2021 Rolex Fastnet Race Photo: Carlo Borlenghi/Rolex

Royal Cork's Nieulargo in the Hunt in Fastnet Race IRC3 as Fleet Face Breezy Night Ahead

8th August 2021 Fastnet

The Rolex Fastnet Race has a reputation for the severe weather that it can throw at its competitors. Still strongly remembered is the 1979 race that cost 19 lives. Today the 49th edition of the 96-year-old offshore racing classic lived…

Royal Cork's Nieulargo nails the start in the biggest of the Fastnet Race fleets

Royal Cork's Nieulargo Makes One of the Best Fastnet Race Starts

8th August 2021 Fastnet

With a strong west-south-west headwind against a burgeoning but favourable ebb tide, the start today in the Rolex Fastnet Race 2021 of IRC3 - the biggest class numerically - was going to be a very tricky one to call and…

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RORC Fastnet Race

This race is both a blue riband international yachting fixture and a biennial offshore pilgrimage that attracts crews from all walks of life:- from aspiring sailors to professional crews; all ages and all professions. Some are racing for charity, others for a personal challenge.

For the world's top professional sailors, it is a 'must-do' race. For some, it will be their first-ever race, and for others, something they have competed in for over 50 years! The race attracts the most diverse fleet of yachts, from beautiful classic yachts to some of the fastest racing machines on the planet – and everything in between.

The testing course passes eight famous landmarks along the route: The Needles, Portland Bill, Start Point, the Lizard, Land’s End, the Fastnet Rock, Bishop’s Rock off the Scillies and Plymouth breakwater (now Cherbourg for 2021 and 2023). After the start in Cowes, the fleet heads westward down The Solent, before exiting into the English Channel at Hurst Castle. The finish for 2021 is in Cherbourg via the Fastnet Rock, off the southern tip of Ireland.

The leg across the Celtic Sea to (and from) the Fastnet Rock is known to be unpredictable and challenging. The competitors are exposed to fast-moving Atlantic weather systems and the fleet often encounter tough conditions

Flawless decision-making, determination and total commitment are the essential requirements. Crews have to manage and anticipate the changing tidal and meteorological conditions imposed by the complex course

The symbol of the race is the Fastnet Rock, located off the southern coast of Ireland. Also known as the Teardrop of Ireland, the Rock marks an evocative turning point in the challenging race

Once sailors reach the Fastnet Rock, they are well over halfway to the finish in Cherbourg.

Fastnet Race - FAQs

When is the next Fastnet Race?

The 49th edition of the biennial Rolex Fastnet Race will start from the Royal Yacht Squadron line in Cowes, UK on Sunday 8th August 2021.

What's new about the 2021 Fastnet Race?

The next two editions of the race in 2021 and 2023 will finish in Cherbourg-en-Cotentin at the head of the Normandy peninsula, France

What will the fleet size be for the 2021 Fastnet Race?

Over 300. A record fleet is once again anticipated for the world's largest offshore yacht race.

Who races in the Fastnet Race?

The international fleet attracts both enthusiastic amateur, the seasoned offshore racer, as well as out-and-out professionals from all corners of the world.

What types of boats compete in the Fastnet Race?

Boats of all shapes, sizes and age take part in this historic race, from 9m-34m (30-110ft) – and everything in between.

What is the multihull Fastnet Race record?

The Fastnet Race multihull course record is: 1 day 4 hours 2 minutes and 26 seconds (2019, Ultim Maxi Edmond de Rothschild, Franck Cammas / Charles Caudrelier)

What is the monohull Fastnet Race record?

The Fastnet Race monohull course record is: 1 day, 18 hours, 39 minutes (2011, Volvo 70, Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing).

Who won the 2019 Fastnet Race?

David and Peter Askew's American VO70 Wizard won the 2019 Rolex Fastnet Race, claiming the Fastnet Challenge Cup for 1st in IRC Overall.

How long has Rolex sponsored the Fastnet Race?

Rolex SA has been a longstanding sponsor of the race since 2001.

When was the first Fastnet Race held?

The first race was in 1925 with 7 boats. The Royal Ocean Racing Club was set up as a result.

What boat was the winner of the first Fastnet Race?

The winner of the first Fastnet Race was the former pilot cutter Jolie Brise, a boat that is still sailing today.

Was there an Irish entry in the first Fastnet Race?

Cork sailor Henry P F Donegan (1870-1940), who gave his total support for the Fastnet Race from its inception in 1925 and competed in the inaugural race in his 43ft cutter Gull from Cork.

Has Ireland every won the Fastnet Race?

Ireland has won the Fastnet Race twice. In 1987 the Dubois 40 Irish Independent won the Fastnet Race overall for the first time and then in 2007 – all of twenty years after Irish Independent’s win – Ireland secured the overall win again this time thanks to Ger O’Rourke’s Cookson 50 Chieftain from the Royal Western Yacht Club of Ireland in Kilrush.

©Afloat 2020

At A Glance – Fastnet Race