Fastnet Yacht Race. News from the RORC Offshore Race Event

One Year to Go! The world's largest offshore race - The Rolex Fastnet Race starts on Saturday, 22 July 2023

Fastnet Race 50th Edition To Take Place in 2023

22nd July 2022 Fastnet

A year from now the start gun will fire on what will be the most significant, historic edition of the world’s largest offshore yacht race. Setting sail from Cowes on Saturday 22nd July 2023 will be the 50th edition of…

Tally Ho pictured in 2017 before Leo Sampson Goolden began his restoration project

Project to Restore 1927 Fastnet Race Winner Seeks Support

17th January 2022 Fastnet

A historic gaff cutter that won the Fastnet Race in 1927 and was saved from the scrapyard in 2017 is gradually being restored to its former glory — but needs support to keep the project going. Tally Ho was built…

The rounding of Ireland's Fastnet Rock is a memorable moment for every competitor

50th Fastnet Race Date Announced by RORC - Saturday, 22nd July 2023

2nd December 2021 Fastnet

Following the success of the 2021 Rolex Fastnet Race from Cowes to Cherbourg-en-Cotentin, the Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC) and its French partners are delighted to announce the date for the next edition of its flagship event in 2023. The…

RL Sailing finishes at Cherbourg to record a five hour win in the Figaro 3 Two-Handed Division in the Rolex Fastnet Race 2021

Is Tracking Reliable Enough for Use in Protest Hearings?

11th October 2021 RORC

Afloat reported in August that the Irish duo of Kenny Rumball and Pamela Lee aboard RL Sailing had been denied a podium position in the Fastnet Race despite crossing the finishing line ahead of her class rivals. The Royal Ocean…

The crew of Desert Star, with the Fastnet finish approaching, buoyed up with success if red-eyed with exhaustion

The Crew of Desert Star are Afloat.ie "Sailors of the Month (Offshore)" for August

1st September 2021 Sailor of the Month

When a sailing school boat of a certain maturity starts to show consistently well in open competition in the decidedly challenging Rolex Fastnet Race, people start to take notice. And as the new-style and longer Fastnet of 2021 progressed, that…

Was Inter-Computer Confusion the Cause of RL Sailing’s Fastnet Race Penalty?

18th August 2021 Fastnet

Following a penalty handed down by the Fastnet Race jury, Pamela Lee of RL Sailing tells her side of the story Not until the late morning after our finish, after celebrating and being interviewed for our win, did we get…

Ad Fichou - Innovéo Bihannic was sailed by Yael Poupon and Victor Le Pape to victory in the Fastnet Race Figaro class

Fastnet Race Figaro Winner Changes After Wicklow Team is Penalised

17th August 2021 Fastnet

This year the Rolex Fastnet Race featured on the Classe Figaro calendar. Unfortunately, the proximity of it to the mid-August start of La Solitaire du Figaro, the class’ premier event and the effective World Championship of solo offshore racing, meant…

Pata Negra (Andrew Hall, Pwllheli SC), the latest addition to the ISORA fleet, has made her debut in her new role with some style, placing second in IRC1 and third overall in the Fastnet Race 2021

The Irish Sea Offshore Racing Association Has Had An Excellent Fastnet Race

13th August 2021 Fastnet

Yes indeed. With only a fortnight to go to the Golden Jubilee of ISORA's emergence from the old Northwest Offshore Association, Chairman Peter Ryan of Dun Laoghaire and Honorary Secretary Stephen Tudor of Pwllheli and their members can walk tall…

Sunrise, JPK 11.80 of Britain's Tom Kneen has been crowned overall winner of the 2021 Rolex Fastnet Race

JPK 11.80 Sunrise Crowned 49th Rolex Fastnet Race Winner

13th August 2021 Fastnet

Tom Kneen’s JPK 11.80 Sunrise has been crowned overall winner of the Rolex Fastnet Race. After being confirmed as the runaway winner of the IRC Two division yesterday, no other boat still racing on the 695 nautical mile course can…

Baltimore RNLI Lifeboat Assists Rolex Fastnet Race Yacht

13th August 2021 Fastnet

Baltimore RNLI was launched last night (Thursday 12 August) to assist a yacht taking part in the Rolex Fastnet Race that was suffering power problems 1 mile east of the Fastnet Rock Lighthouse off the coast of West Cork. The…

Conor Totterdell (NYC) on the helm of Irish Offshore Sailing's Desert Star at the Fastnet Rock

Ireland’s Desert Star Finishes Fastnet Race with Strong Second Overall in Class IRC4

13th August 2021 Fastnet

Day 6 1100: For the last 36 hours and more, Irish offshore racing enthusiasts have been on the edge of their seats, willing Irish Offshore Sailing’s veteran Sunfast 37 Desert Star from Dun Laoghaire’s Irish Offshore Sailing to hang onto…

Victory in IRC Two-Handed & IRC Three for Alexis Loison's JPK 1030 Léon, racing with Guillaume Pirouelle

IRC Three Fastnet Race Victory for Loison as Two-Handed Goes to the Wire

13th August 2021 Fastnet

One of the most intense battles, both on the water and under IRC corrected time, in this year’s Rolex Fastnet Race played out in IRC Three. Here the scratch boat was unquestionably the JPK 1030 Léon, skippered by the defending…

The Figaro 3 RL Sailing (Kenneth Rumball & Pam Lee) in a fresh breeze. In gentler conditions early this morning, the Irish duo had the best of a three-way two-handed Fastnet finish line contest with Shirley Robertson in Swell and Alexis Loison in Leon

Fastnet Race Finish This Morning: RL Sailing Shows Well as Desert Star Moves Up to Second in IRC 4

13th August 2021 Fastnet

Day 6 0800: In the final stages of their Fastnet Race through last night and the small hours of this morning, Ireland's Kenneth Rumball and Pamela Lee in RL Sailing found themselves in a three-way battle of the Two-Handers, even…

Desert Star of Irish Offshore Sailing – battling on several fronts to retain a podium position in IRC4 in the 2021 Fastnet Race

Go Star Go! Hopes of Ireland Ride With Veteran Desert Star for a Class Place in Fastnet Race

12th August 2021 Fastnet

Day 5 1900: With the JPK 11.80 Sunrise (Tom Kneen GB) named as overall IRC winner and first in IRC2 at the 2021 Fastnet Race finish in Cherbourg - thereby confirming France's Jean-Pierre Kelbert of Lorient as one of this generations's…

IRC Two victory for Tom Kneen and his young team on the JPK 11.80 Sunrise

Sunrise Performs a Horizon Job in Fastnet Race IRC2

12th August 2021 Fastnet

Tom Kneen’s JPK 11.80 Sunrise has sewn up IRC Two in this 49th Rolex Fastnet Race. The Devonshire team crossed the Cherbourg finish line at 1004 BST this morning. Sunrise’s corrected time of 4 days, 6 hours, 45 minutes 4…

Desert Star from Dun Laoghaire had a good fourth night in the Fastnet Race 2021, moving up from 13th to sixth in IRC 4

Fastnet Race Lead: Overnight Leader Ino XXX - Finished in Cherbourg - Holds off Pata Negra Challenge But Faces IRC competition While Nieulargo Loses Ground

12th August 2021 Fastnet

Day 5 0830 The ideal time for the projected IRC overall Fastnet Race IRC leader - James Neville's HH42 INO XXX - to reach the Fastnet Race finish in Cherbourg was by 20:30 hrs BST last night, in order to…

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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

Fastnet Race 2023 Date

The 2023 50th Rolex Fastnet Race will start on Saturday, 22nd July 2023

At A Glance – Fastnet Race

The world's largest offshore yacht race
The biennial race is 605 nautical miles - Cowes, Fastnet Rock, Plymouth
A fleet of over 400 yachts regularly will take part
The international fleet is made up of over 26 countries
Multihull course record: 1 day, 8 hours, 48 minutes (2011, Banque Populaire V)
Monohull course record: 1 day, 18 hours, 39 minutes (2011, Volvo 70, Abu Dhabi)
Largest IRC Rated boat is the 100ft (30.48m) Scallywag 100 (HKG)
Some of the Smallest boats in the fleet are 30 footers
Rolex SA has been a longstanding sponsor of the race since 2001
The first race was in 1925 with 7 boats. The Royal Ocean Racing Club was set up as a result