AC1 update 09:00 BST 29 July 2025: Stefan Jentzsch’s Botin 56 Black Pearl (NYYC) leads the Admiral's Cup 1 fleet on the water with 124nm to go. The immediate chasing pack on the same line and port gybe is Beau Geste, Jolt 3, Caro and Rán. Coming in from the south on port gybe are Privateer, Imagine, Django WR51 and Teasing Machine. Two boats are to the north on starboard gybe, Final Final and Zen.
A new class leader in AC1 - The Dutch young guns on ROST Van Uden (RMYC) Photo: James Tomlinson
The whole AC1 fleet are south of the rhumb line, the northerly current of about a knot is set until about 14:00. The predicted wind speed and direction is set to change slightly for the last 100nm, initially just into the low teens but softening to sub-ten knots. At around 14:00, when the current is due to change, lighter winds are predicted for a period.
Looking at the PredictWind routing software, the models pretty much agree on wind speed but show a wide spread of predicted wind direction. If this becomes a reality, we could see some big gains and losses before the finish.
At 09:00 BST 29 July, we have a new class leader in the Dutch young guns on ROST Van Uden (RMYC). With150nm to go, the Royal Maas YC team is in pole position by three hours after IRC time correction. Gordon Ketelbey’s TP52 Zen (CYCA) is ranked second. Third is fluid with Karl Kwok’s TP52 Beau Geste (RHKYC) , Jon Desmond’s PAC 52 Final Final (RORC White), Peter Harrison’s TP52 Jolt 3 (YCM), Ron O’Hanley’s Cookson 50 Privateer (RIYC) and Daniel Baum’s Tison 48 Elida (HSC) all within one hour after IRC time correction.
Jon Desmond’s PAC 52 Final Final (RORC White) Photo: James Tomlinson
Gordon Ketelbey’s TP52 Zen (CYCA) Photo: James Tomlinson
Daniel Baum’s Tison 48 Elida (HSC) Photo: James Tomlinson
AC2 update 09:00 BST 29 July 2025
James Murray’s B&C 42 Callisto (RNZYS) had a superb night and now leads the AC2 fleet on the water by less than a mile from Pierre Casiraghi’s Carkeek 42 Jolt 6 (YCM). The leading pair are offshore south of The Lizard with about 140nm to go. Karl Kwok’s Botin 40 Beau Ideal (RHKYC) is just three miles astern on the same line. Way north of the leaders’ position, the de Graaf family’s Ker 43 Baraka GP (RMYC), Sean Langman’s GP42 Back 2 Black (CYCA) and Philippe Frantz’s NM43 Albator (YCF) chose to pass through the TSS chicane off the Scilly Isles.
James Murray’s B&C 42 Callisto (RNZYS) Photo: Rick Tomlinson
According to PredictWind routing models, there’s strong agreement on the wind forecast. Wind speeds should average around 12-14 knots, favourable for the bigger boats and only decreasing slightly later on. For the AC2 fleet, a potential light wind patch is expected to form and dissipate before they arrive, meaning they should avoid any slowdown. The breeze is also forecast to veer to the south, which sets up the possibility of a straight-line, full-throttle run to the finish in Cherbourg.
At the time of writing, and as Afloat reported earlier, Jolt 6 still leads but by the paper-thin margin of 10 minutes from Callisto. Beau Ideal is about an hour and half off pole position after IRC time correction. Albator, Chris Frost’s Carkeek 40+ AMP-lifi (RORC White) and Baraka GP are in a close battle for fourth after correction. Django JPK (YCCS), skippered by Michele Ivaldi was class leader at the Fastnet Rock, but has slipped back to seventh, now over five hours behind pole position after IRC time correction.
During the early hours of the fourth day of the Rolex Fastnet Race, Pierre Casiraghi describes the feelings and way of life aboard Jolt 6: “I see the exhaustion in their eyes, but no one talks about it. I have only volunteers for every task, despite the lack of sleep, the hunger, the cold, the wind, the danger. No one sleeps more than another, no one eats more than another.
“Everyone tries to look out for their teammate. There’s mutual support at every level, and we rotate through all the roles. We give everything we have. Despite the moisture slowly seeping through our rain gear, the discomfort, and the constant noise, all I see is generosity in effort. I am proud to be among them. It is an honour for me.
“The noble man is the one who doesn’t spare himself, and through his attitude, inspires others to go beyond their limits. I wish everyone could experience moments like these.”
Pierre Casiraghi’s Carkeek 42 Jolt 6 (YCM) Photo: James Tomlinson
Chris Frost’s Carkeek 40+ AMP-lifi (RORC White) Photo: Paul Wyeth
The de Graaf family’s Ker 43 Baraka GP (RMYC) Photo: James Tomlinson
Admiral’s Cup: Overall Team Standings: 0900 BST 29 July 2025
