'Well, I can't quite believe it is all over after all the months of anticipation. But it is, and I am still flying high. Thank you very much Magali for your organisation, Julian for your inspiration and instruction and to you both for creating a magnificent experience for me, you are the best.
Tina, Fastnet 2005
The Fastnet Race is the most famous and most challenging of the Royal Ocean Racing Club Races and since the first Fastnet race in 1925, it has provided sailors with the ultimate challenge of rounding the Fastnet rock; The 610 mile Fastnet Race is a biennial event which attracts 250 of the world’s best racing yachts and the next edition to be run will be in 2011.
The Fastnet course takes the fleet westwards out of the Solent and along the south coast to Lands End. From there, the fleet heads into the open ocean and to the southern coast of Ireland where the boats have to round the Fastnet Rock. After rounding the rock it is a sprint back down the Irish Sea leaving Bishop Rock lighthouse on the Southside of the Scilly Isles to port then the final dash to the finish line in Plymouth. The race can take 3 to 5 days depending on size of yacht and weather conditions encountered en route.
To qualify for this race, the skipper and half the crew need to have completed 300 miles of RORC offshore racing in the 13 months preceding the race. One third of the crew will also need to attend an ISAF sea survival course. A typical Fastnet campaign consists of 1 training weekend, 2 RORC qualification races and the Fastnet race itself. The emphasis on this campaign is on training, learning, exhilarating races, teamwork, safety and fun!
