The Rolex Fastnet Race has been organised by the Royal Ocean Racing Club, first held in 1925, partnered with Rolex since 2001 is one of the most thrilling races in the yachting world, one should be extremely grateful to witness. In this particularly special year, the finish is in Cherbourg, France, rather than its typical Plymouth, England.
On just the second day of the race, victory has been claimed by the French trimaran Maxi Edmond de Rothschild. The 695nm race was finished by the crew of six led by Franck Cammas and Charles Caudrelier at the impressive mark of 1 day, 9 hours, 14 minutes, and 54 seconds. The team was then warmly welcomed in joyous celebration by numerous fans; our happiest congratulations go to the team and their remarkable triumph.
Only a few hours prior, the leading monohull in race, the Skorpios, have rounded the legendary Fastnet Rock after only 1 day, 6 hours 38 minutes, and 43 seconds into the race, remarking another great achievement. The crew led by Dmitri Rybolovlev succeeded in such achievement despite this being their first competitive outing proving that this fierce team will be one to look out for in future races. Only two and a half hours later, Skorpios’s close rival, Rambler 88, also reached Fastnet Rock giving us another suspenseful race to win the monohull line honors.
For the majority of the fleet, the race is far from over. Most of today was spent in a struggle for progress towards Land’s End and the scape into the Celtic Sea due to strong winds. Foreshadowed by the harsh twelve starting hours of the Rolex Fastnet Race, taking large toll on the fleet, 79 of the original 330 competitors retired; however, numerous more may see the challenging conditions as an appealing motivation to continue the emblematic race.
Meanwhile, we will continue to celebrate in the name of the phenomenal champions of the 695nm Rolex Fastnet Race, the Maxi Edmond de Rothschild team, whilst we continue to cheer and encourage the rest of these powerful teams in the incredible Rolex Fastnet Race.
