Displaying items by tag: Neptune Head of the River

3rd November 2016

Neptune Head of the River is Off

#Rowing: Neptune Head of the River, scheduled for Saturday, November 5^th on Blessington Lakes has been cancelled. The organisers say that the forecast of high winds at the venue meant they could not continue with the event. A big part of the entry consisted of junior crews – there were 20 entries in the men’s junior 18 single sculls.

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30th January 2016

Neptune Head Cancelled

#Rowing: The Neptune Head of the River at Blessington had to be cancelled this morning because of bad weather. The organisers had been ready to go ahead but conditions were not rowable. This is a double blow for the event, as it had originally been fixed for November and had to be called off because of a bad weather forecast.

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5th November 2015

Forecast of Strong Gusts Forces Cancellation of Neptune Head

#Rowing: The Neptune Head of the River, scheduled for this Saturday, November 7th, has been cancelled. The weather forecast for the course at Blessington predicted gusts of up to 40 kilometres per hour, forcing the organisers to take the option of calling off the event.

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4th April 2015

Close Finishes Add Spice at Neptune Regatta

# Rowing: Trinity took the women’s eights title at the Neptune Regatta at sunny Islandbridge today, beating a game Portora crew which had earlier had an easy win in the women’s junior 18 final. Trinity A beat Trinity B in the men’s senior eights final. The men’s masters eights final was a terrific race, won by Neptune by a canvas. In another fine battle, Fionnán Groome of Commercial won the intermediate singles final by beating Sam McKeown of Portadown by a quarter of a canvas.

Neptune Regatta, Islandbridge, Saturday (Selected Results)

Men

Eights – Senior: Trinity A bt Trinity B 4l, 3:17. Club One: UCD bt Portora 1½ l, 3:20. Novice: Trinity A bt Trinity B 3l, 3:43. Junior 16: Portora bt Commercial 4l, 3:40. Junior 15: Portora bt Commercial, 3l, 4:01. Masters: Neptune bt Commercial canvas.

Four – Senior, coxed: Trinity (M Corcoran, P Moreau, M Kelly, L Hawkes; cox: K Salley) bt Neptune/Trinity 3l, 3:30. Club One, coxed: UCD bt Belfast 1½ l. Junior 18, coxed: Portora bt Athlone easily, 5:06. Masters: Commercial bt Carlow 3l.

Sculling,

Quadruple – Club Two, coxed: Athlone bt Sligo 2ft, 3:59. Junior 18: Commercial bt Portora easily, Junior 16, coxed: Three Castles bt Portora 1l. Junior 15, coxed: Commercial A bt Neptune, disqualified

Double – Junior 16: St Michael’s B bt Clonmel 3l, 4:40.Junior 15: Neptune A bt Carlow easily, 4:26.

Single – Senior: Trinity (I Hurley) bt Commercial (C Dowling) ½l, 4:05. Intermediate: Commercial (F Groome) bt Portadown (S McKeown) ¼ canvas, 4:47. Club One: Sligo (Patterson). Club Two: Trinity (L Addison) bt Trinity (Norton) 3l, 4:20. Junior 18: Athlone (Munnelly) bt Graiguenamanagh (Lennon) 2l, 4:25. Junior 16: St Michael’s (O’Byrne) bt Clonmel (Dundon) 3 1/3, 5:37.

Women

Eights – Senior: Trinity bt Portora 3l, 3:47. Club One: Trinity bt UCD 2l. Novice: Commercial bt Trinity B 1½ l. Junior 18: Portora bt Neptune easily, 4:04. Junior 16: Portora bt Athlone easily, 4:11. Junior 15: Portora B bt Portora A 1½ l.

Four – Senior, coxed: Trinity bt Commercial 3l. Intermediate: Portora bt Trinity canvas, 4:12. Club One, coxed: Trinity A bt Trinity B 2l, 4:17.

Sculling,

Quadruple - Club Two, coxed: Garda bt Fermoy 2/3 l 4:25. Junior 18: Neptune bt Sligo row over. Junior 16, coxed: Carlow bt Castleconnell 3l, 4:24. Junior 15, coxed: St Michael’s A bt New Ross easily, 4:43.

Double – Junior 16: Carlow bt Athlone easily; 5.00. Junior 15: St Michael’s A bt New Ross 4l, 4:50

Single, Senior: New Ross (E Maurin) bt Portadown (Martin) easily, 4:45. Club One: Fermoy (Bounane) bt Three Castles (Feely) easily, 4:45. Club Two: Garda (J Ryan) bt Clonmel (O’Malley-Adair) 2½ l. Junior 18: Neptune (Feerick) bt Belfast (Coulter) easily, 4:59. Junior 16: Fermoy (Murphy) bt Fermoy (O’Sullivan) ½ l, 4:55.

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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