| Coefficient | 1 |
|---|
| Format | Double |
|---|---|
| Distance | 605 milles (1 120 km) |
| Race track | Cowes - Plymouth, UK via the Fastnet Rock |
| Race director | Chris Stone |
| Organizer | RORC |
| IMOCA reference time | Vincent Riou & Jean Le Cam, PRB, 2011, 1j, 23 h, 21 m, 27 s |
Classic, unmissable, popular, packed… there are countless ways to describe the Rolex Fastnet Race. Fast approaching its one hundredth anniversary edition, it has run from Cowes (on the Isle of Wight) to Plymouth since its creation in 1925, which equates to a 605-mile course via the very famous Fastnet Rock.
It was created by an Englishman by the name of Weston Martyr who, marvelling at the racing in Bermuda, sent a letter to an English magazine to convince them to form a committee so that England could fashion a similar race. From seven participants in its first edition in 1925, the Fastnet Race is now held in early August and will gather more than 400 boats in 2019.
A victim of its own success in some ways, once again this year’s places were all sold out in under 5 minutes... To cap it all, 2019 will herald a record IMOCA fleet with some 25 duos ready to do battle to succeed the tandem of Paul Meilhat - Gwénolé Gahinet, winners in 2017!
Now part of the Imoca Globe Series event schedule, the Rolex Fastnet Race will enable participants to rack up Championship points and continue amassing miles with a view to selection for the Vendée Globe 2020. And among the competing boats, the performance posted by the latest generation steeds like Hugo Boss (Alex Thomson), Apivia (Charlie Dalin) and Arkéa-Paprec (Sébastien Simon) will be eagerly awaited.
Sébastien SIMON
Vincent RIOU
Clarisse CRÉMER
Armel LE CLEAC'H
Louis BURTON
Davy BEAUDART
Miranda MERRON
Halvard MABIRE
Jérémie BEYOU
Christopher PRATT
Denis VAN WEYNBERGH
Lionel REGNIER
Damien SEGUIN
Yoann RICHOMME
Manuel COUSIN
Gildas MORVAN
Samantha DAVIES
Paul MEILHAT
Alan ROURA
Sébastien AUDIGANE
Arnaud BOISSIÈRES
Hiroshi KITADA
Yannick BESTAVEN
Roland JOURDAIN
Boris HERRMANN
Will HARRIS
Fabrice AMEDEO
Eric PERON
Pip HARE
Paul LARSEN
Kévin ESCOFFIER
Nicolas LUNVEN
Giancarlo PEDOTE
Anthony MARCHAND
Richard TOLKIEN
Rune AASBERG
Stéphane LE DIRAISON
François GUIFFANT
Maxime SOREL
Guillaume LE BREC
The 48th edition of the Rolex Fastnet Race gave us an extreme race with speed being the key element for the twenty IMOCA monohulls taking part, eleven of which were foilers.
•••While IMOCA 60s are renowned for racing non-stop around the world in the Vendée Globe, the doublehanded crews of these extraordinary space-age craft appreciate the Rolex Fastnet Race as it offers most conditions of a rou…
•••Sam, Stéphane, Damien, Boris, Paul, Annie speak about the Rolex Fastnet Race just before the start...
•••From 11h45 (UK time), watch the start of the race from Cowes, Isle of White. The twenty IMOCAs will cross the startline at 12:45.
•••The 2019 Rolex Fastnet Race start will bring together no fewer than twenty IMOCA monohulls on Saturday 3rd August (including eleven foilers) at the start from Cowes (Isle of Wight) at 12h45 (UK) with the finish in Plymou…
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