Fastnet Racers To Have Day Of Gentler Conditions Before Atlantic Weather Returns

25th July 2023

Neat. Mike O'Donnell's J/121 Darkwood (Royal Irish YC) crosses ahead of the Lombard 45 Pata Negra (Andrew & Sam Hall, Pwllheli SC) as they close in on the Fastnet Rock yesterday (Monday) evening

Fastnet Race Day Four 0900 - When they were approaching the Fastnet Rock yesterday, the middle cohort of this still-large fleet in the 50th Edition of the Fastnet Race found that summer was quietly enjoying itself around West Cork's legendary Rock, and for today at least, much of the course will be in lighter breezes, mainly from the northwest before brisker Atlantic weather reasserts itself from the southwest tomorrow.

The Fastnet Rock - Summer was quietly enjoying itself around West Cork's legendary Rock Photo: Kurt Arrigo

Yesterday (Monday) evening at Cherbourg, the battle for mono-hull line honours was resolved almost 24 hours after the two leading mega-multihulls had finished, with the monos seeing Charlie Dalin get the best of a local northerly freshening to come in first with his IMOCA Macif ahead of fellow-IMOCA Paprec Arkea and the 88ft American canting-keel Lucky (formerly George David's Rambler 88), which is now being raced by Bryon Erhart.

Reigning IMOCA class champion Charlie Dalin and Pascal Bidegorry on MACIF Santé Prévoyance are the RORC Rolex Fastnet Race 2023 monohull line winners Photo: Paul Wyeth

Through the night and early morning, the steadily-leading IRC Overall Leader Caro, Max Klink's Swiss-registered Botin 52, finished her superb race still in first place, but the Irish interest in Chris Sheehan's Pac 52 Warriors Won was rewarded with fourth overall when the numbers were finalised at the finish.

In a mid-fleet still very much at sea, one of the best races continues to be for IRC 1, with defending champion Sunrise III, Tom Kneen's JPK 11.80, battling it out with sister-ship Dawn Treader (Ed Bell) and the Fournier family from France with the J/133 Pintia, though in the eased conditions they will still have 40 miles of the return passage to the Isles of Scilly to sail.

Meanwhile, as our header photo fresh from the race-course reveals, private contests develop throughout the fleet - in this case from yesterday (Monday) evening, Mike O'Donnell's J/121 Darkwood (Royal Irish YC) is crossing ahead of Andrew and Sam Hall of Pwllheli with the renowned Lombard 45 Pata Negra.

Fournier family from France with the J/133 Pintia round the Fastnet Rock in the 2023 Fastnet Race Photo: David Sheridan

With "very helpful" water ballast and the likes of Marshall King of Greystones and Ed Beecher of Kinsale in her crew, Darkwood has been showing well, but even she's can't conjure up wind when there isn't any, and as feared in last night's review, this morning has brought very soft conditions indeed, and Darkwood - at 9th in IRC 1 - is making only 1.3 knots Cherbourg-bound 45 miles from the Rock.

Of other Irish boats, the sad news is that gallant old sea-school war horse Desert Star of Dun Laoghaire's Irish Offshore Sailing - the best of the Irish in 2021 - has had to retire into Penzance. But of those still racing, Samatom (Robert Rendell, Howth YC) is 13th in Class 1 out of exactly a hundred starters, with Pata Negra at 16th.

In IRC2, Nieulargo (Denis Murphy Royal Cork YC) is improving again and is up to 14th in IRC 2, and Prime Suspect (Keith Millar, Kilmore Quay) is 30th in a class of 90.

IRC3 sees veteran 1977 winner Imp (George Radley, Royal Cork) at 20th out of 84, while in IRC 4, 6th overall and first in IRC4B is held by the veteran Australian gaff cutter Maluka with Gordon Maguire on board, while
Noe Coleman's Oyster 37 Blue Oyster from Royal Cork is 15th in a class of 35 starters.

Today's light airs and calms will rule all of the mid-fleet group out of any chance of overall honours, but they're scarcely aware of that as they continue their own private contests.

Published in Fastnet

Fastnet Race Live Tracker 2023

Track the progress of the 2023 Fastnet Yacht Race fleet on the live tracker above

The 50th edition of the 700-mile race organised by the Royal Ocean Racing Club starts from Cowes, Isle of Wight, on Saturday, 22nd July.

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About The Author

WM Nixon

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William M Nixon has been writing about sailing in Ireland for many years in print and online, and his work has appeared internationally in magazines and books. His own experience ranges from club sailing to international offshore events, and he has cruised extensively under sail, often in his own boats which have ranged in size from an 11ft dinghy to a 35ft cruiser-racer. He has also been involved in the administration of several sailing organisations.

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RORC Fastnet Race

This race is both a blue riband international yachting fixture and a biennial offshore pilgrimage that attracts crews from all walks of life:- from aspiring sailors to professional crews; all ages and all professions. Some are racing for charity, others for a personal challenge.

For the world's top professional sailors, it is a 'must-do' race. For some, it will be their first-ever race, and for others, something they have competed in for over 50 years! The race attracts the most diverse fleet of yachts, from beautiful classic yachts to some of the fastest racing machines on the planet – and everything in between.

The testing course passes eight famous landmarks along the route: The Needles, Portland Bill, Start Point, the Lizard, Land’s End, the Fastnet Rock, Bishop’s Rock off the Scillies and Plymouth breakwater (now Cherbourg for 2021 and 2023). After the start in Cowes, the fleet heads westward down The Solent, before exiting into the English Channel at Hurst Castle. The finish for 2021 is in Cherbourg via the Fastnet Rock, off the southern tip of Ireland.

The leg across the Celtic Sea to (and from) the Fastnet Rock is known to be unpredictable and challenging. The competitors are exposed to fast-moving Atlantic weather systems and the fleet often encounter tough conditions

Flawless decision-making, determination and total commitment are the essential requirements. Crews have to manage and anticipate the changing tidal and meteorological conditions imposed by the complex course

The symbol of the race is the Fastnet Rock, located off the southern coast of Ireland. Also known as the Teardrop of Ireland, the Rock marks an evocative turning point in the challenging race

Once sailors reach the Fastnet Rock, they are well over halfway to the finish in Cherbourg.

Fastnet Race - FAQs

When is the next Fastnet Race?

The 49th edition of the biennial Rolex Fastnet Race will start from the Royal Yacht Squadron line in Cowes, UK on Sunday 8th August 2021.

What's new about the 2021 Fastnet Race?

The next two editions of the race in 2021 and 2023 will finish in Cherbourg-en-Cotentin at the head of the Normandy peninsula, France

What will the fleet size be for the 2021 Fastnet Race?

Over 300. A record fleet is once again anticipated for the world's largest offshore yacht race.

Who races in the Fastnet Race?

The international fleet attracts both enthusiastic amateur, the seasoned offshore racer, as well as out-and-out professionals from all corners of the world.

What types of boats compete in the Fastnet Race?

Boats of all shapes, sizes and age take part in this historic race, from 9m-34m (30-110ft) – and everything in between.

What is the multihull Fastnet Race record?

The Fastnet Race multihull course record is: 1 day 4 hours 2 minutes and 26 seconds (2019, Ultim Maxi Edmond de Rothschild, Franck Cammas / Charles Caudrelier)

What is the monohull Fastnet Race record?

The Fastnet Race monohull course record is: 1 day, 18 hours, 39 minutes (2011, Volvo 70, Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing).

Who won the 2019 Fastnet Race?

David and Peter Askew's American VO70 Wizard won the 2019 Rolex Fastnet Race, claiming the Fastnet Challenge Cup for 1st in IRC Overall.

How long has Rolex sponsored the Fastnet Race?

Rolex SA has been a longstanding sponsor of the race since 2001.

When was the first Fastnet Race held?

The first race was in 1925 with 7 boats. The Royal Ocean Racing Club was set up as a result.

What boat was the winner of the first Fastnet Race?

The winner of the first Fastnet Race was the former pilot cutter Jolie Brise, a boat that is still sailing today.

Was there an Irish entry in the first Fastnet Race?

Cork sailor Henry P F Donegan (1870-1940), who gave his total support for the Fastnet Race from its inception in 1925 and competed in the inaugural race in his 43ft cutter Gull from Cork.

Has Ireland every won the Fastnet Race?

Ireland has won the Fastnet Race twice. In 1987 the Dubois 40 Irish Independent won the Fastnet Race overall for the first time and then in 2007 – all of twenty years after Irish Independent’s win – Ireland secured the overall win again this time thanks to Ger O’Rourke’s Cookson 50 Chieftain from the Royal Western Yacht Club of Ireland in Kilrush.

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At A Glance – Fastnet Race