Coveney Onboard With O'Coineen For Fastnet 'Kilcullen Voyager' Challenge

13th August 2015

#fastnet – Irish Team – on the "Kilcullen Yoyager" compete for the first time in the Rolex Fastnet Race, Cowes, Isle of Wight, Sunday 16th August

On Sunday 16th August Ireland will be represented for the first time in the biennial Rolex Fastnet Race off Cowes, Isle of Wight, in the IMOCA Open 60 class with the "Kilcullen Voyager", skippered by Enda O'Coineen and Co-Skipper David Kenefick. They will sail in the Two-Handed class in a record fleet – and a major test for new foil design developments.

The Fastnet one of the World's great classic ocean middle-distance races, gets under way off Cowes, Isle of Wight at noon on Sunday 16th August, to the traditional blast of the Cannon from the Royal Yacht Squadron. The event is a challenging race which has a reputation of having a wide variety of weather conditions, from calm waters to violent storms such as those experienced in 1979 when 17 lives were lost.

As part of preparations the Irish team will sail with full crew in the Artemis Challenge today Thursday. Kilcullen Voyager's crew will include Minister Simon Coveney, who is taking time out from his holidays to use the event to highlight Ireland's marine industry, as well as sporting personalities such as Gavin Hastings.

The Artemis Challenge is a race around the Isle of Wight which raises funds for charities.The Irish team's nominated charity will be the Atlantic Youth Trust. In the Kilcullen Voyager's last race off Cork, as part of Seafest and the Oceanwealth Conference she raced the Hugo Boss Open 60 for the Galway Plate. This was first competed for in 1884 on Galway Bay. The €10,000 prize money which was won was donated to the Atlantic Youth Trust by Stephen O'Flaherty, whose family hail from the Aran Islands.

While getting ready for these big events ahead, starting this morning, Skipper Enda O'Coineen was quietly confident and said it was a great privilege to sail in this Fastnet ocean classic on such a great boat and a world class fleet.

" This challenge is more a personal quest and adventure, bringing back memories when I first competed in this race in 1979" said O'Coineen. In fact he was on one of the smallest boats in the race which capsized but happily emerged with little damage while sadly others were not so lucky.

Kilcullen Voyager is seven years old and a veteran round the world campaigner. The 60 footer is an IMOCA60 was designed by Owen Clark Design who will be on board for the Artemis Challenge.

Over 10 Open 60's are racing in the Fastnet Race and the Artemis Challenge, many of whom are new with all having the latest in dynamic stability systems. This gives the yachts added lift T This is the first time these new generation boats will compete with the older boats, being prepared for the 2016 Vendee Globe Around the World Race, including The Kilcullen Yoyager.

Published in Fastnet

Fastnet Race Live Tracker 2023

Track the progress of the 2023 Fastnet Yacht Race fleet on the live tracker above

The 50th edition of the 700-mile race organised by the Royal Ocean Racing Club starts from Cowes, Isle of Wight, on Saturday, 22nd July.

Published in Fastnet

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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.

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At A Glance – Fastnet Race