Two days after the canon fired at Cowes for the start, the Rolex Fastnet Race is in full swing. The pace is intense, fatigue is creeping in, but the fleet remains focused. The 51st edition of this legendary race is living up to its reputation as a 695 nautical mile sprint where every choice weighs heavily. Having left at 11.10am on Saturday 26 July in a 10-12 knot southwesterly, the fleet sailed quite speedily along the English coast before plunging into the vagaries of the Celtic Sea. One remarkable fact was that there were only eight abandons out of a record 444 participants which has never been seen before. This Monday morning, the first to cross the finish in Cherbourg, and win the multi-hull line honours, was the Ultime SVR-Lazartigue led by Tom Laperche after 1 day 17 hours 18 minutes and 4 seconds.
The Rolex Fastnet Race represents the biggest challenge and is also the last race of the Admiral’s Cup. With a coefficient 3 it is a deciding factor in the overall ranking. Thanks to some pin-sharp decisions, Jolt 6 helmed by YCM vice-president Pierre Casiraghi is currently leading in the AC Class 2. From the start, Jolt 6 fought to gain and keep the advantage. Off the Scilly Isles a well-executed sail change kept them in the lead. The boats behind closed in at times but their position remains solid. Will Harris, navigator, did a commendable job in anticipating each transition.
Sunday night put the teams to the test with strong wind, big waves and very little rest for the crew. But their spirits remain intact, the focus being on conserving energy for what’s to come when they round the awesome Fastnet Rock which they expect to do around 1.00pm this Monday. After the long beat up, it will be downwind to Cherbourg. Peter Harrison and his Jolt 3 (TP52) are defending their positions. The Briton, a YCM member, is currently lying third in AC Class 1 in the provisional ranking of the Admiral’s Cup.
Behind the Admiral’s Cup monohulls, the Maxi 100 Black Jack of YCM member Remon Vos, helmed by Tristan LeBrun (member of the YCM’s Captains Club) continues its hunt for line honours glory. The Monaco crew are ahead of YCM member Joost Schuijff’s Leopard 3 sailing at a heady speed of 15 knots. The finish looks set to be close, the gaps are narrow and everything could change before Cherbourg.
In the multihull category, Oren Nataf is also doing well. Aboard his Pulsar 50 Rayon Vert, he rounded the Fastnet Rock first in his category in corrected time. A remarkable performance that confirms his consistency after his podium finish at the Fastnet in 2021.
The Rolex Fastnet Race is the decider of the Admiral’s Cup, the final ranking of which will be known in Cherbourg. After a thrilling Channel Race and six inshore races in the Solent, Yacht Club de Monaco is second in the provisional teams ranking, a whisker behind the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club. As the Fastnet is coefficient 3 it is the one to win.
