ROLEX FASTNET RACE

Image: Rolex-Kurt Arrigo DID YOU KNOW?

Within an hour of entry opening, an unprecedented 400 boats had entered the RORC’s fl agship event - bow to bow this line-up represents almost 5km of yachts.

Most extraordinary about this year’s Fastnet Race is this huge fl eet. Over the last two decades it has almost doubled in size, but the leap between the 2019 and 2021 has been the biggest ever, up to the present tally of more than 450 from 388 two years ago. The bulk is the IRC fl eet competing for individual class prizes as well as the overall winner’s trophy, the Fastnet Challenge Cup.

This year’s Rolex Fastnet Race will begin in the Solent on 8 August and, for the fi rst time, will fi nish in Cherbourg, France. The course takes the boats down the south coast of England, between the Scilly Isles and Land’s End and across the Celtic Sea to the Fastnet Rock off southwest Ireland. The fl eet then returns rounding Bishop Rock, to the west of the Scilly Isles. New direction

From here the course is new for 2021, with the fi nish port moving from Plymouth, its traditional destination since the race’s fi rst edition in 1925, to Cherbourg in northern France.

This change increases the length of the race from 608 to 695 miles, and tactically it will place fresh demands on crews with a fi nal hurdle of tackling the fast-moving currents of the Alderney Race before reaching the French fi nish. Bringing the world’s largest offshore race to France is very appropriate given its position as the leading nation for this genre of racing. French racing success has extended to the Rolex Fastnet Race where, in 2019, French yachts actually won nine of the 10 classes.

“Cherbourg is the perfect venue for the fi nish of the race,” said race director, Chris Stone. “It has amazing facilities for competitors, berthing that allows us to grow and expand the event, plus the city is right on the doorstep of the race village. Of course, coupled with that is the enormous love for offshore sailing in France. That popularity brings interest and visitors to the city and the race village – it is going to be amazing.”

Covid concerns

Although the French Government has restricted travel between the UK and France (at the time of writing the UK is on the French amber list), the RORC remains hopeful that the start date will be unaffected. However, the race management team are considering all scenarios and how it could affect the running of the race.

Chris Stone said: “As with most of the pandemic, things are changing daily and we are working with our partners in Cherbourg-en-Cotentin and government authorities to create the safest race we can; on and off the water. The team will continue to monitor the situation and advise on issues and alternative arrangements, if necessary.”

Competitors sailing to the UK for any RORC races, including the Rolex Fastnet Race, can do so without the need for quarantine and paying for tests on arrival in the UK, as per the UK Border Force advice and on the assumption that no crew touch land in the UK.

“This is great news for our European sailors and should provide plenty of reassurance for the Rolex Fastnet Race competitors in their preparations. We have also decentralised our race offi ces, offering competitors the opportunity to fi nalise their registrations in either the traditional Cowes offi ce, the Hamble offi ce on the mainland or, for the fi rst time, a race offi ce in Cherbourg from 4 August.

“It is a great initiative for our European competitors who can benefi t from free berthing in Cherbourg throughout that period, and carry out all the registration procedures before taking the start – all without having to stop over in the UK,” concluded Chris. www.rolexfastnetrace.com www.rorc.org

Image: Rolex / Daniel Forster

Supported by our Worldwide Spares Delivery Service