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Yachting Monthly

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Caro wins Fastnet, yacht sinks and four dismasted in treacherous race

• Heather Prentice
• July 24, 2023

It was a fast and furious start to the 50th Rolex Fastnet Race with four dismastings and one yacht sinking in the winds of 40 knots

The 52ft Swiss entry Caro, skippered by Max Klink wins the 50th Rolex Fastnet Race

Caro , a Botin 52 owned and skippered by Max Klink, is the overall winner of the 50th Rolex Fastnet in a punishing race that saw one yacht sink and four yachts dismasted in gale-force winds, with close to 90 yachts pulling out in the first 24 hours.

Four-metre waves, and gale-force winds gusting up to 43 knots hit the fleet shortly after the start from Cowes on Saturday as a record 443 yachts headed off on the famous 695-mile yacht race round the Fastnet Rock off the south coast of Ireland and across the Celtic Sea to Cherbourg, France.

HM Coastguard reported that they had responded to 28 incidents involving yachts participating in the Fastnet Race in the first few hours, with a search and rescue helicopter and RNLI crews from Yarmouth, Poole, Swanage and Weymouth responding to multiple incidents.

The winning maxi trimaran SVR Lazartigue from France was the first yacht to round the Fastnet rock Photo: Rolex/Kurt Arrigo

The most serious incident was the sinking of the Sunfast 3600 Vari in the western Solent. Only 20 minutes elapsed between the crew of Vari raising the alarm that they were taking on water and the yacht sinking. The two French crew were recovered from their life raft by an RNLI lifeboat at Yarmouth and taken ashore to hospital. They are both safe and well and now back in France.

Golden Globe Race skipper Tabio Lehtinen was dismasted on his Swan 55 Galiana , which is due to compete in the Ocean Globe Race, a retro edition of the historic Whitbread race, in September. Sun Fast 3200 Mirabelle was also dismasted as was Royal Naval Sailing Association’s Sun Fast 3600 Yoyo and Sun Fast 2600 Diablo

Oida ran around off Beaulieu after the anchor dragged and CF520 Oystercatcher XXXV suffered deck failure. There were several MOB/EPIRB distress alerts as devices got covered by water, proving to be false alarms.

The winner Caro also did not escape unscathed. ‘The first 12 hours we were just in survival mode, trying not to break anything, trying to keep the boat at 100 percent,’ said the Swiss owner. ‘I wasn’t thinking about any title or trophy, it was just about getting through the conditions.’

‘At one point we just had everyone in the cockpit, no one was hiking. And keeping the boat speed to no more than six knots and trying to just get through this really bad sea state.’

Strong wind against the tide led to heavy conditions early in the Fastnet Race Photo: Rolex/kurt Arrigo

Caro also sailed largely without instruments after damage to the top of the mast. Tactician Adrian Stead, twice a winner of the Fastnet, added: ‘We lost the wand off the top of the mast in the Portland tidal race and we lost all our wind instruments, so we were running blind.’

‘We pretty much straight lined it all the way (back from the Scilly Isles) and we realised we had a very good shot at winning IRC Zero so pulled out all the stops, got out some extra chocolate bars and had everyone hiking hard on the rail for the last few hours into the finish.’

Caro completed the course in 2 days, 16 hours and 40 minutes, two hours ahead of nearest rival Team Jajo on corrected time, although this may change as there ere are several yachts yet to complete the race. 

Multihull line honours went to SVR Lazartigue under skipper François Gabart with a new record of 1 day, 8 hours, 38 minutes, beating the exiting multihull record by 30 minutes and reaching the finish line an hour before rival Banque Populaire under skipper Armel le Cléac’h. 

The American yacht Warrior Won rounds the Fastnet Rock at dawn during the 50th Rolex Fastnet Race. Photo: Rolex/Kurt Arrigo

The new IMOCA 60 Macif , skippered by Charlie Dalin, was the first monohull home, taking line honours in an incredibly close race between the giant IMOCAs. 

Macif beat Paprec Arkea , skippered by Yoann Richomme by only four minutes and Sam Goodchild, the skipper of For The Planet was only 13 minutes behind them. 

Macif set a new monohull course record of 2 days, 7 hours and 16 minutes, shaving over an hour from the time set by Skorpios , a ClubSwan 125, in 2021 when the race first sailed this new course.

RORC Racing Manager Steve Cole said the committee had considered postponing the race but that there was another low pressure system developing to the west of Ireland and in a seven-day race for some yachts it is difficult to avoid bad weather. 

‘The feeling was that, although it’s better not to have bad weather at all, if you have to have it, better along the English coast where there are places to shelter than, in the Celtic Sea,’ he told Yachting Monthly.  

‘Undoubtedly the forecast would have put some people off, but our rules are flexible enough to allow people to take shelter and then resume racing later. A lot of people did that and good for them for taking the right decision at the time,’ Cole added.

‘We put the races on and hopefully people are well prepared and well informed and the ones that get through it are the ones that deserve to finish.’ 

Yarmouth RNLI Coxswain, Howard Lester said: ‘This weekend’s Fastnet race was the busiest one for Yarmouth lifeboat, responding to six incidents in some very challenging conditions in the western Solent and beyond.

‘We were very fortunate that all our call outs were to crews with means of calling for help and were equipped with either lifejackets or had life rafts accessible onboard.’

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Rolex Fastnet Race: 50th Edition Grows the Legacy

Cherbourg, 28 July 2023 - The 50th edition of a contest as legendary as the Rolex Fastnet Race deserved to be special. The largest ever fleet in the history of offshore racing spanning fully professional ocean racing greyhounds as well as more Corinthian entries combined with conditions that tested preparation, determination and expertise. The result, an epic that will be remembered not just for the celebratory element, but its contribution to a near 100 year legacy. First held in 1925 and organized by the Royal Ocean Racing Club, the Rolex Fastnet Race sits alongside the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race as a pillar of Rolex’s longstanding and privileged relationship with yachting, and as one of the most revered and challenging ocean races in the world.

Setting off from Cowes, England, on 22 July, into winds gusting 40 knots, crews were set an immediate and extreme examination of boat-handling and resilience. When those who completed the course crossed the finish line in Cherbourg, France, fatigue from their exertions was matched by pride at passing the test. The sense of accomplishment was evident throughout. In terms of prize winners, Max Klink’s 52 foot (15.85 metre) Caro from Switzerland secured the Fastnet Challenge Cup for overall victory under IRC time correction, adding a new name and country to the honour roll on the coveted trophy. Two records were set: first home across the entire fleet, the 105ft (32m) French trimaran SVR Lazartigue  skippered by François Gabart, established a new benchmark time for the 695-nautical mile (1,287 kilometre) course, while Charlie Dalin’s 60ft (18.29m)  Macif Santé Prévoyance  beat the previous best for a monohull.

Overall winner Caro ’s battle was against the main body of yachts, 358, spread across five classes. Diverse entries ranging from the 88ft (27m) carbon-fibre canting-keeled racing maxi, Lucky , from the United States with 20 crew, down to  Maluka , sailed by five. The 90-year-old design is built of pine, a mere 30ft (9m) in length and gaff-rigged like the winner of the first Fastnet, Jolie Brise . Its Australian owner is a 30-race veteran of the Rolex Sydney Hobart. Such is the heritage and status of the northern hemisphere’s premier offshore competition, that Sean Langman, who has raced immensely powerful skiffs, trimarans and maxis over a long career, chose to compete in his first Rolex Fastnet Race in yacht almost the same age as the race itself. Langman commented:

“Racing offshore [in Maluka] is, for our team, a connection with the purity of the sport.”

The win for   Caro   was a source of immense satisfaction although anything but straight-forward. The navigational and technical skills, as well as the courage, determination and fortitude, required to succeed in this type of competition reflect the quest for excellence inherent in the sport from its earliest days, attributes which drew Rolex to begin its support in the late 1950s. According to Klink:

“ The first hours we were just in survival mode, trying to keep the boat at 100 per cent. I wasn’t thinking about any title or trophy, it was just about getting through the conditions.   Winning the Rolex Fastnet is any sailor’s dream,   It’s all the more special that this is the 50th edition of such an iconic race."

This was a victory born of exemplary planning as much as performance on the course. Klink is a committed ocean racer. His latest   Caro   first went offshore at the 2022 Rolex Sydney Hobart, where it finished third overall only 17 minutes behind the winner.

" The boat is meant to do well in all these Rolex 600 milers, the Fastnet, the Middle Sea Race, the Hobart … "

Armed with a boat clearly suited to challenge, the crew also needed to play their part. British sailor and tactician Adrian Stead, already a two-time winner in 2009 and 2011, blended his substantial experience of the course area with the acumen of Andy Green, the navigator, remarkably on his first Rolex Fastnet Race. Stead felt their work ahead of the start was key to managing the early conditions and being able to press at the end: 

“ The practice run we did before, out in the Solent in 25 knots of breeze, was useful preparation for everyone on the team. Practising starting and then a full circuit of the Isle of Wight, a good seven-hour shakedown for all of us and the boat. ” 

“ It was very tough, particularly the first eight hours with the front coming over. Our goal was to survive that and then race hard. The Volvo 65s and Lucky had got away from us at the rock, but we had a good run to Scillies. Over the last 180nm we saw the boats in front slowing, so we worked extra hard. ”

Fortune with the weather is always a component in any offshore win, but for Stead there are more significant factors:

“ An owner who is passionate for the sport, great preparation, a great team. Those are the ingredients it takes to win a Rolex Fastnet Race .”

Line Honours Technology and innovation play a critical part in being the fastest over the course. Both the multihull and monohull line honours boats proved their cutting-edge credentials, surpassing their closest rivals in tactics and speed, and outwitting the weather. Although few in number, the multihulls always make a huge impression. Particularly the grand prix foiling trimarans, whose immense power was plainly demonstrated.   SVR Lazartigue   crossed the line at 21:38:27 BST on 23 July beating   Banque Populaire   by just under an hour. By contrast, at the same time, the leading monohulls were reaching the Fastnet Rock, half the racetrack in arrears. Gabart’s time of one day, eight hours, 38 minutes and 27 seconds set a new outright race record, beating the 2021 time by just over 36 minutes.

A class winner in 2013 and cruelly beaten on the line in 2019, Gabart was thrilled with his team’s achievement:

“ The start was not easy with strong winds for the first six or eight hours. The Rolex Fastnet is an incredible, mythical event. I have been looking for a win for a long time now, so I am very proud to do so with this beautiful boat and crew. ”

Racing with just two crew,   Macif   was launched in June 2023. Dalin carries great experience of both the race and competing at the highest level. A class winner here in 2013, he finished second in a solo round the world race in 2021.   Macif   is equipped with the latest offshore foils, which were used to good effect to overhaul the larger   Lucky   en route to the Scillies. Finishing in two days, seven hours, 16 minutes and 26 seconds, Dalin improved the previous monohull record, also set in 2021 and by a yacht twice the length of   Macif , by one hour, 15 minutes.

ROLEX AND YACHTING Rolex has always associated with activities driven by passion, excellence, precision and team spirit. The Swiss watchmaker naturally gravitated towards the elite world of yachting six decades ago and the brand's enduring partnership now encompasses the most prestigious clubs, races and regattas, as well as towering figures in the sport, including ground-breaking round-the-world yachtsman Sir Francis Chichester and the most successful Olympic sailor of all time, Sir Ben Ainslie. Today, Rolex is Title Sponsor of 15 major international events from leading offshore races such as the annual Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race and the biennial Rolex Fastnet Race, to grand prix competition at the Rolex TP52 World Championship and spectacular gatherings at the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup and the Rolex Swan Cup. It also supports the exciting SailGP global championship in which national teams race identical supercharged F50 catamarans on some of the world's most famous harbours. Rolex's partnerships with the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, Royal Ocean Racing Club, Yacht Club Costa Smeralda, Yacht Club Italiano, New York Yacht Club and Royal Yacht Squadron, among others, are the foundation of its enduring relationship with this dynamic sport.

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Rolex Fastnet Race features record fleet

• July 19, 2023

The Rolex Fastnet Race features its largest entry list to date, with close to 500 boats seeking to sail 695nm from Cowes to Cherbourg via the Fastnet Rock in the 50th edition of the offshore classic.

Cowes hosts the race start on July 22

Starting in Cowes on the Isle of Wight off England’s south coast, the 50th edition of the biennial Rolex Fastnet Race features a record entry list, with over 490 boats signed up. Setting off on July 22 in eight starts separated by 20-minute intervals, the fleet is set to smash the previous record set in 2019 when the biennial race featured 388 yachts and was the last edition to finish in Plymouth.

This year’s race will again feature a 695nm course heading west to round the Fastnet Rock – Ireland’s most southernmost point – before turning back and heading to Cherbourg-en-Cotentin in northern France, which hosted the finale for the first time in 2021 when 363 yachts competed.

The 695nm race will finish in Cherbourg for a second edition

First held in 1925, the Rolex Fastnet Race – the flagship event of the Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC) – has by far the biggest fleet among all the world’s classic offshore races and this year is expected to feature over 3,000 sailors from over 30 countries including Japan.

Entries includes the world’s fastest offshore racing yachts, the giant flying Ultime trimarans, as well as about 30 IMOCAs as used in the Vendée Globe and the present Ocean Race, along with privately owned racing machines including Bryon Ehrhart’s 88ft Lucky and Peter Morton’s Maxi 72 Notorious .

Yachts exit The Solent and pass The Needles

French teams again make up the majority of the IMOCA 60 class, which also features leading competitors from the UK and across Europe, while Japan’s Kojiro Shiraishi will compete on DMG Mori Global One , launched in 2019.

Shiraishi sailed the VPLP design to 10th place in the 2020 Vendée Arctique before finishing 16th in the 2020-21 Vendée Globe after sailing solo around the world for almost 95 days. Now 56, the Japanese is competing in the Rolex Fastnet Race for the first time and will sail with French sailor Thierry Duprey du Vorsent.

Kojiro Shiraishi will make his Rolex Fastnet Race debut

“This is my first participation in the race and it’s an honour to be part of it. It will be a great test for myself and to see the new performance of the boat,” said Shiraishi, who said the boat’s modifications over the winter included a new bow and foils.

“It’s such a mythical race with such a rich history, while the 50 th edition makes it more special. I’m looking forward to the start with many boats around, so I hope to start well. It will be an honour for us

to sail past the RORC clubhouse.

Shiraishi will compete on DMG Mori Global One

“I’ve rounded the Fastnet once, but it was nighttime and I could only see the light of the lighthouse, so I’m hoping to see the Fastnet Rock in daylight!”

Meanwhile, teenager Zoë d’Ornano – daughter of Malaysia-born Lay Koon Tan – is again competing with her parents on one of the Tall Ships Youth Trust (TSYT) boats. Two years ago, Zoë, then 12, was the youngest sailor in the race and raised £10,550 to give 12 disadvantaged young people a life changing voyage with TSYT.

Tall Ships Youth Trust has entered three 72ft boats

This year, the youth development sail training charity has entered three of its 72ft Challenger yachts, with Zoë sailing with her parents on one of two boats crewed by adults, who are fundraising to enable a crew of young people aged 16-25 to sail on the third yacht.

“We’ve met the youngsters who’ve been selected and they come from challenging backgrounds,” said Zoë’s mother, Lay Koon Tan.

The IRC fleet competing for the race’s historic top prize, the Fastnet Challenge Cup, features about 370 yachts, making it one of the biggest races ever held under IRC in the 23-year existence of the RORC/UNCL’s rating rule.

For this special edition, entries are coming from across the globe, but few are making a greater effort than Paddy Broughton and his crew on the 73ft maxi yawl Kialoa II . Originally raced by the great maxi yacht campaigner Jim Kilroy from 1963-74, Kialoa II was second home in the 1969 Fastnet Race.

Launched in 1963, Kialoa II has sailed from Sydney to compete

Since 2016 the yacht has been owned by English brothers Paddy and Keith Broughton who have sought to recreate Kilroy’s globe-trotting race programme. She competed in the 2017 Rolex Fastnet Race, while in 2019 she competed in the 50th Transpac and 75th Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race.

After competing in the Rolex Sydney Hobart last December, Kialoa II has since been delivered from Sydney, all the way across the Pacific, through the Panama Canal and Caribbean, then across the Atlantic to the UK on her own bottom, a Kilroy tradition.

Yachts pass the Fastnet Rock in Ireland

“The Rolex Fastnet Race is one of the great ocean races, along with our own Rolex Sydney Hobart,” says Paddy Broughton, now also of Australian nationality.

“Tactically, because of the tides and course, it’s probably the most difficult – a real challenge. We really wanted her to be part of RORC’s 50 th Rolex Fastnet Race celebrations and have sailed from Sydney to do so.”

www.rolexfastnetrace.com

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Everything you need to know about the Fastnet Race

One of sailing's most famous races begins on Saturday 3 August – and here's what you need to know Text by Jonno Turner

It’s one of sailing’s most famous events – a race taking place every two years, and seeing the best sailors in the world come together to test themselves in some of the trickiest conditions around.  

Yep, it’s time for the Rolex Fastnet Race. This 608-mile challenge has been a bucket list event for sailors around the globe since it began back in 1925 – and this time, it’ll look a little different.

On Saturday, the largest ever fleet of IMOCAs in the Fastnet's history – the boats that will contest the next Ocean Race in 2021 – will compete for bragging rights.

What is the Fastnet Race?

Simply put, it’s the largest ocean race in the world, featuring a mind-boggling array of boats. This 608-mile race from Cowes, on the Isle of Wight, to Fastnet Rock, sitting on the southern tip of Ireland, and back into a finish off Plymouth. The Fastnet has been raced since 1925 and has its place on the calendar of sailing’s most prestigious events.

Why is the Fastnet Race so famous?

It’s one of yachting’s classic races, organised by the Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC) in the UK, and since 1925 has played a big role in the growth of offshore racing as a sport. If you like history, this is a race steeped in it, including a tragic edition in 1979 where 15 yachtsmen lost their lives after a stronger than expected storm decimated the fleet. The race hasn’t gotten any easier over the years and in 2019, the Fastnet remains a real test of sailing skills – with both inshore and offshore know-how needed to win. 

Talk me through the route...

The course has numerous challenges – and veterans often refer to these as mini races within one bigger race. For instance, the start will see the fleet leave the Solent to head west in tidal ranges of 4-6 meters, with strong tidal flows either helping or hindering the fleet. Add in the challenge of racing against over 400 other boats, as well as hundreds of spectators, and the race track becomes extremely complex – even getting out of the starting blocks cleanly can take massive levels of skill and calm – and races have been won and lost within the first 20 miles. As the fleet reaches Lizard Point – the southernmost point of the UK – they will then face shallow waters, Traffic Separation Schemes before popping out into the Celtic Sea, where things get really gnarly. Then, a quick dash to Fastnet Rock – trying to take the prize of being ‘first around the rock’ – before turning back and heading for home, via the TSS and some enormous tides. Throw in a 100-mile sprint back around Lizard Point to the finish in Plymouth, where the winds drop and become fickle, testing the competitors right up to the line.

What’s the connection between the Fastnet Race and The Ocean Race?

There is no official relationship between the two races – but a lot of respect. The Fastnet has often been used as a true test of form before The Ocean Race, and Ian Walker’s Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing (VO70) still holds the monohull record from 2011, where they completed the course in 42 hours 39 minutes. This year will be particularly interesting, as it sees a massive fleet of upwards of 20 IMOCA 60s go head to head – the third largest IMOCA fleet in history – including many teams and sailors who are working to make the start line of the 2021-22 edition of The Ocean Race.

Who should I look out for?

There are plenty of Ocean Race legends taking part in the Race (too many to mention) and all scattered across different boats, but keep your eye out for some familiar faces. Three VO65s and three VO70s will take to the start line – and David Witt’s Scallywag 100-footer will race in the maxi class. In the IMOCA 60 class, Boris Herrmann, who is already registered to take part in the next edition, will compete against the likes of Paul Meilhat and Sam Davies.

Meanwhile, Offshore Team Germany, featuring Annie Lush and Conrad Colman is racing with an Ocean Race crew configuration onboard – so will give us the first indication of what life could be like in 2021.

Where can I track the fleet?

Make sure you visit the Rolex Fastnet Race website at https://www.rolexfastnetrace.com/  for all the latest news and rankings.

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Two giant foiling trimarans set for a Fastnet Race battle

• Toby Heppell
• July 18, 2023

The battle to be the first boat home will be hard fought between two giant trimarans in this years Fastnet Race, with the foilers promising an epic battle

As with most big races around the world, bragging rights in the Rolex Fastnet Race race are split into two broad camps, the line honours winners (the first boat to complete the course) and the winner of the event on corrected time.

And since the inclusion of multihulls 20 years ago, these categories are split again into monohull and multihull line honours and handicap winners.

Most of those taking part in the race, in either monohulls or multihulls, will only be focussed on the handicap results as a line honours win is out of reach of all but the fastest, biggest and most expensive boats in the world.

For the Rolex Fastnet Race 2023 , the fastest boat to complete the course will almost certainly be one of the two 100ft foiling trimarans, the Ultim of Banque Populaire XI and SVR-Lazartigue .

Banque Populaire XI in full flight. Photo: Jeremie Lecaudey

Fastest Fastnet Race Multihulls

The foiling ocean racers are at the very forefront of technical innovation and are designed to break records – be that offshore races, ocean crossings or the ultimate prize a Jules Verne Round the World record .

The Ultim trimarans are set to become especially newsworthy over the next months with the first ever race for five of these extreme 32m long by 23m wide flying trimarans, around the world, non-stop, singlehanded, setting sail from Brest, France on 7 January next year.

Before then two of the main contenders will be leading the charge on the rather shorter 695 mile Rolex Fastnet Race.

A rticle continues below…

Extraordinary boats: Banque Populaire XI

Banque Populaire is one of the world’s most experienced and successful sailing teams, and was the force behind Armel Le…

The ultimate foiling machine? Onboard SVR-Lazartigue

Launched in July after 150,000 hours of work, SVR-Lazartigue is the latest addition to the burgeoning Ultim 32/23 fleet. In…

How to win the Rolex Fastnet Race: expert navigator’s tips

The 2021 edition of the Rolex Fastnet Race came with an interesting change. The finish line, having always previously been…

SVR-Lazartigue and Banque Populaire XI are skippered by two titans of offshore racing, Francois Gabart and Armel le Cleac’h respectively. Both are Vendée Globe winners (Gabart 2012, le Cleac’h 2016). Le Cleac’h is part of the exclusive club of triple winners of La Solitaire du Figaro (the unofficial world championship of solo offshore racing). He has been racing Ultims since 2013, this being his second boat.

Similarly, Gabart joined the Ultim class in 2015 winning many events with his MACIF trimaran, culminating in his record for sailing singlehanded non-stop around the world of just 42d 16h 40m 35s, incredibly just under two days shy of the fully crewed record.

Gabart has competed in the Rolex Fastnet Race twice before, winning on his IMOCA 60 MACIF in 2013 and then, in 2019, leading into the Plymouth finish line aboard his Ultim trimaran, only to be pipped at the post by Groupe Edmond de Rothschild , finishing less than one minute astern. “That was a little disappointing,” Gabart admits.

Charles Caudrelier and Franck Cammas on Maxi Edmond de Rothschild win the last Fastnet Race in 2021. Photo: Eloi Stichelbaut / PolaRYSE / Gitana

Neither of these Ultims competed in the 2021 race, when Charles Caudrelier and Franck Cammas on Maxi Edmond de Rothschild established the record for the new course to Cherbourg of 1d 9h 14m 54s.

Their Ultims are more than capable of bettering this and it’s possible a good breeze could even see the 14-year-old outright record for the most miles covered in 24 hours (908.2 miles/average speed 37.84 knots), also broken, given enough runway with suitable conditions and the will. If pressed, the latest Ultims could cover 1000 miles in a day (average speed 41.6 knots).

The top speed on Banque Populaire XI to date is 47 knots, but it is not top speed but high average speeds that Le Cleac’h says is the objective. “40-42 knots for one or two hours is very good, or 35-37 knots for 24 hours. We know that it is possible with our boat if the conditions are good.”

The performance of the Ultims has taken a massive leap in recent years, since new foil configurations have enabled them to fly.

For Banque Populaire XI getting airborne requires 12-13 knots of wind/22-23 knots of boat speed. Ideal conditions are no more than 20 knots as above this the sea state becomes too rough to use the foils effectively. Upwind in 15-17 knots Banque Populaire XI flies and will be making 27-30 knots. “That is the big step forward compared to the last Ultims, and that difference is very important compared to the older generation Ultims.”

“We regularly reach speeds of over 40 knots at less than 90° true wind angle (TWA),” says Gabbart. “In certain conditions, such as 25 knots of wind on flat seas, at 65°-70° off the wind, you’re doing 40 knots. That’s 60-65 knots of apparent wind speed. The maximum AWS in our log is not far from 70 knots.”

Of course one of these two foiling beasts being first to finish the Fastnet Race does require that they actually finish. The giant trimarans are at the very forefront of innovation and are famously susceptible to damage.

Reliability is improving, however, as foiling technology improves but even these hugely developed technological marvels the old adage holds true; ‘to finish first, first you have to finish’.

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RECORD-BREAKING SUCCESS AT THE ROLEX FASTNET RACE 2023

North sails powers two new course records and personal wins throughout the fleet.

The 50th edition of the renowned Rolex Fastnet Race drew a record-breaking number of entries, with 430 boats from around the world participating in this challenging offshore classic. The race lived up to its reputation for competitiveness and difficulty, providing thrilling sailing action for participants and spectators alike.

The standout performers of the 2023 edition were the North Sails-powered skippers Francois Gabart and Charlie Dalin , who set new Fastnet Race course records in their respective categories. Gabart, aboard Ultim SVR Lazartigue , secured the overall line honors and set a multihull race record with an impressive time of 1 day, 8 hours, 38 minutes, and 27 seconds. 

North Sails and Gabart have worked together across his various projects for over 15 years. The Ultim skipper commented on this collaboration and the critical role of the importance of advanced sailing technology:

"I started working with North Sails with my first IMOCA, and it's never stopped. With all the technology developed, the [3Di] material , all the design tools available for development… that's a long story, more than 15 years, but still working well. And I hope it'll be the same in the future."

MACIF Santé Prévoyance skipper Dalin with Pascal Bidégorry, was the first monohull to cross the line in Cherbourg, completing the race in 2 days, 7 hours, 16 minutes, and 26 seconds. Dalin's triumph continued his impressive performance following his IMOCA class win in the 2021 Fastnet Race. 

Despite having only five days of practice on the newly launched IMOCA before the race, Dalin and Bidégorry showcased exceptional skill and determination throughout the challenging course. 

"It was a very intense race from the first second, going upwind in 30+ knots in the Solent," said Dalin. "It was incredible with the big waves and winds getting out of the Channel. Then there was the leg from the Fastnet to the Scillies when we reached almost 40 knots several times - crazy speeds – the boat just flying. Then the crazy battle at the end with Yoann [Richomme] and Yann [Elies]. We caught them, they took off again, we caught them again and managed to overtake and then when we'd got a two-mile lead, we got some seaweed on the keel! Finally, we got rid of that and extended again to the finish."

The race's 50th edition was not without difficulties, as adverse weather conditions greeted the fleet, making for a dramatic initial 24 hours. One of the pre-race favorites, Peter Morton's Notorious , whose crew included North Sails UK General Manager Ian Walker, decided against risking severe damage in these conditions and withdrew before the start. 

Morton's decision proved wise for the powered-up JV72 as strong winds gusting up to 40 knots, combined with a fierce tide, tested the sailors' mettle, leading to nearly 100 retirements, one sinking, and four dismastings in the first 12 hours. Additionally, Niklas Zenstrom's North-powered Ran with Bouwe Bekking on the crew roster was slated as a strong IRC Overall contender until structural damage forced their retirement along with Oystercatcher XXXV .

Despite the challenging conditions, many boats continued down the course, only to be met with tricky conditions further down the track.

Walker, who set a race record in 2011 as skipper of Abu Dhabi commented:

"For the big boats who pressed on with the journey to France, Mother Nature did not play kindly. Lucky , the Juan K designed 88-footer, made great use of their new North J6 jib, designed for exactly the rougher conditions, and looked to be heading for Monohull and IRC overall victory until light winds and foul tide beset them on the final approach to Cherbourg. Another highly fancied, new-build, Carkeek 45 Ino Noir , powered by North Sails, sailed a well-managed race to put themselves in contention but fell off the back of the best wind in the Irish Sea and could do nothing as the 50-footers sailed away in a better breeze."

In the IRC Two-handed fleet, which encountered harsh conditions exiting the Needles Channel, remarkable displays of seamanship were witnessed as teams fought to survive the first 24 hours. The French teams dominated the podium, but local North UK clients, Kelvin Matthews and Tim Goodhew sailing their Sunfast 3200, performed admirably, finishing fourth overall in IRC 3. Additionally, the father and daughter duo of Ellie and Jim Driver onboard the Sunfast 3300 Chilli Pepper secured 10th place in IRC Two-handed and 33rd overall in IRC.

The Rolex Fastnet Race 2023 will undoubtedly be remembered for its exceptional competition, remarkable performances, and celebration of the enduring spirit of sailing. The event again solidified its status as a must-do offshore race, leaving participants and spectators anticipating the next edition in 2025.

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Published on July 24th, 2023 | by Editor

Brutal conditions for record-setting Fastnet Race

Published on July 24th, 2023 by Editor -->

The 2023 Rolex Fastnet Race set sail with 430 yachts on July 22 – up from the previous record of 388 that took the last pre-COVID race in 2019.

While pundits were comparing the wind for the 50th edition to that of the last Rolex Fastnet Race in 2021, in fact it was gustier with a densely overcast sky, drizzle that built to rain, and enough mist to obscure the mainland.

However, what was consistent was the heinous washing machine sea-state that competitors encountered at the western exit of the Solent at Hurst Narrows, as they passed the Isle of Wight’s most famous landmark, the Needles and beyond. As usual this built increasingly with the ebb tide, especially affecting the smaller yachts.

It was a brutal first night at sea with numerous retirements and many others seeking temporary shelter from the gale force conditions in the English Channel.

By the first morning, 86 had officially retired, comprising 78 across the IRC fleet (the biggest number being 27 in IRC Two) plus two Class40s, two IMOCAs, three MOCRA multihulls and one Ocean 50 trimaran.

In the severe conditions, HM Coastguard reported involvement in 28 incidents, including one sinking. Said the event statement, “At approximately 16:30 yesterday afternoon the Sun Fast 3600 Vari began to take on water southwest of the Needles. Thanks to the swift response of the emergency services both crew members were evacuated to Yarmouth, Isle of Wight and are safe and well. The boat is believed to have sunk although the exact reasons are not yet confirmed.”

Several calls to HM Coastguard were to do with injured crew. Otherwise, four yachts dismasted – Heather Tarr’s Yoyo from Ireland; Nick Martin’s Diablo; Bertrand Daniels’ Mirabelle and Tapio Lehtinen’s Swan 55 yawl Galiana (due to compete in the Ocean Globe Race shortly).

In addition, Azora sustained broken steering, Dulcissima a loss of rigging, while Richard Matthews’ CF520 Oystercatcher XXXV sustained deck failure and Oida ran aground after her anchor dragged.

There were several other incidents in which HM Coastguard was not involved, including the mast foot exploding on Long Courrier who retired to Cowes – the only occasion race veteran and 2015 winner Géry Trentesaux has retired from this race.

Fifteen registered entries didn’t start, including one of the race favorites – Peter Morton’s Maxi 72 Notorious in IRC Super Zero.

Good news did arrive on day two as after a tough first 24 hours, conditions had abated in the English Channel and Celtic Sea. Between Land’s End and the Scilly Isles, there were reports of 17 knots from 250°, dropping to 15 for the second night, with the wind in the western English Channel typically 10-15 knots.

But well ahead of that was François Gabart and his team on the 100-foot SVR Lazartigue as they crossed the finish line at 21:38:27 BST on July 23, setting a new record of 1 day 8 hours 38 minutes 27 seconds, breaking the time set by Franck Cammas and Charles Caudrelier on Maxi Groupe Edmond de Rothschild two years ago by 36 minutes 27 seconds.

The 32m long by 23m wide, foil-borne, flying Ultim trimarans are by far the biggest, fastest offshore race boats on the planet, with the gale force winds making little impression

“It is never easy to leave the Solent and doing it in an Ultim is even more difficult,” admitted Gabart. “Doing it with 400 boats around you is harder still. And if you do it upwind…in 25 knots…! It is not easy! We were happy to make it out of the Solent. I think if there had been more than 30 knots at Hurst, we wouldn’t have done it. After that the waves were strong, but we could still race and in the end, we broke nothing.”

Event information – Entry list – Facebook

A record-sized fleet got underway for the 50th edition of Royal Ocean Racing Club’s Rolex Fastnet Race from Cowes on July 22, 2023. For a second consecutive occasion, the course departed from the UK but has a French finish in Cherbourg-en-Cotentin via a 695 nautical mile course via the Fastnet Rock.

Tags: Fastnet Race , François Gabart , records

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