Big daddy
Tactical, demanding, rewarding, every offshore sailor who gets even half a chance needs a Rolex Fastnet Race on their CV. Few regret it, particularly once they have had time to dry out…
Much gin may have been spilled last December when the Royal Ocean Racing Club announced that the finish of its flagship event, the Rolex Fastnet Race, was moving from Plymouth, its home for the last 95 years, across the Channel to Cherbourg. However, the best part of a year on, even the staunchest traditionalists are warming to the new finish venue and its benefits, such as actually being able to get a free berth alongside until the prizegiving, the potential for fine dining and the public interest that only yacht races taking in la Belle France seem able to create, especially when the fleet gets to moor in the heart of one of the country’s most historic ports. France is the world’s top offshore racing
nation. It is home to Rolex Fastnet Race competitors in the Ultim, Imoca 60 and Class40 grand prix offshore fleets, among them some of the world’s fastest offshore multihulls and monohulls, many of whose skippers are household names and whose sponsors – including some of France’s biggest companies – will gain value from the move to Cherbourg. Meanwhile, for competitors in the main
IRC fleet, from serious grand prix entries to enthusiastic amateurs, sailing schools and family entries, not only do they get to take part in an event in which they can rub shoulders with the international offshore racing elite, and can have a chance of winning the race overall if they sail well
60 SEAHORSE
enough, but now at last they can be part of a finish worthy of the world’s largest participation offshore yacht race. In Cherbourg the fleet will be moored in
the giant Port Chantereyne and in the Bassin du Commerce in the heart of the city centre. Berthing in Cherbourg is also available to competitors for free during the week before the start of the Fastnet Race, where it will be possible for crews to complete their registration formalities. There is the prospect too of a mass
departure from Cherbourg bound for Cowes on the Saturday night. At the finish competitors will be able to enjoy a big race village with top-quality live entertainment and the local organising team anticipating a footfall of around 150,000 over the duration of the finish period. All this has been made possible thanks to the City of Cherbourg-en-Cotentin, the Communauté d’agglomération du Cotentin, the Conseil départemental de la Manche and Région Normandie, working alongside the RORC. From a tactical point of view, the move
to Cherbourg adds around 90 miles to the course and presents a different challenge. While the tidal conditions at the Lizard
and fickle wind on the approach to the Plymouth finish line could see places change, so too the approach to Cherbourg from the west has similar challenges which could affect the outcome of the race and provide opportunities for those still in with a chance of winning their class and the race overall.
Entry Over the past two decades the Rolex Fastnet Race has proved itself hugely popular, as demonstrated by its enormous and growing fleet that last year saw a record 388 yachts on the startline from 27 nations. Equally extraordinary is that,
when registration for the race opens in January, all available places are snapped up literally within minutes before a waiting list is inevitably opened (the record time being just four minutes, 24 seconds). However,
this and the event’s
familiarity perhaps underplay the fact that the Fastnet, now slightly longer at close to 700 miles due to the move to Cherbourg, remains a very serious race, usually involving a lengthy, ultra-tactical beat southwest down the Channel followed by open ocean crossings to the Fastnet Rock and back, during which competitors are exposed to the full brunt of the Atlantic Ocean. The race has gained a reputation for
being tough and demanding, not least because in 1979 15 competitors died after a storm hit the fleet in the Celtic Sea. Safety standards and the design and build of yachts have immeasurably improved since but for safety reasons the RORC is obliged to demand stringent qualification. The all-important registration opens on
12 January 2021 at 1000 UTC, with entries admitted on a first come, first served basis. Signing up takes place online and requires competitors to log in to their RORC Sailgate account. Those yet to register for Sailgate are strongly advised to do so well before the 12th. By 17 January the race team will have
allocated places. RORC members take priority over non-members (to join, visit
www.rorc. org/membership/join-the-rorc). A non-refundable 50 per cent of the entry fee must then be paid within 10 days of registration (ie by 22 January).
Qualification Entrants must also liaise with the race team over their plans to comply with the qualification requirements. For the 2021
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