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Rolex Fastnet Attracts Diverse Fleet
ISAF @ Fri May 15 08:58:00 2009
Rambler and ICAP Leopard are the first boats to round the Fastnet Rock in the 2007 race
©ROLEX/Daniel Forster
Organizers, the Royal Ocean Racing Club, immediately set up a waiting list, which currently stands at seventy confirming the enduring and considerable interest in this classic offshore race that this year starts at 12:00 on Sunday 9 August from the Royal Yacht Squadron line at Cowes.
As one would expect with so many yachts entered, the fleet is a broad cross-section of the international offshore racing scene, with the smallest yacht (Fore Winds from Poland) at 30ft (9.5m) up to the largest at 100 feet (30.5m). Crews range from the full on professional through the Corinthian racers to those just taking part for the adventure and challenge presented by the 608 nautical miles. Entries have been drawn from near and far. The allure of Rolex Fastnet continues to attract competitors from across Europe, the USA and, even, Hong Kong and Australia.
The highlight within the substantial fleet looks to be the current race record holder – Mike SLADE’s (GBR) Farr 100 ICAP Leopard, which has undergone some surgery since setting a time of 1 day, 20 hours, 18 minutes in 2007; given the right conditions she could well lop more time off the benchmark. Leopard will not be the only 100-footer on the line, Liara the Bill DIXON-designed Performance Yachting 100 will be there too. Whilst Liara is performance oriented, she should be no match for a race-prepared Leopard, which looks likely to be cutting a lonely furrow at the head of the fleet unlike 2007 when it took until near the finish to shake off the smaller Rambler. Just behind the big boys will be a much-anticipated battle in the 65 to 75 foot mini-maxi range with the STP65s Rosebud (USA), winner of 2007 Rolex Sydney Hobart, and Luna Rossa (ITA), new this season, set to do battle with Ran (GBR) the 72-foot Judel/Vrolijk design owned by Nicklas ZENNSTROM of Skype fame.
The 2007 Rolex Fastnet overall winner was the Cookson 50, Chieftain. In this entry zone of 45 feet and up to the mini-maxis, there are number of modern and performance-oriented boats, including two Ker 46s – John SHEPHERD’s Fair Do’s VII (GBR) and Piet VROON’s latest Tonnerre de Breskens (NED). VROON is a former overall race winner, in 2001, the first year of Rolex’s partnership with the event. Amongst others, these seasoned campaigners will be up against three Rogers 46s, including past-Commodore David AISHER’s Yeoman XXXII and two German competitors, Chris WUTTKE’s Guts ‘n’ Glory and Jens KELLINGHUSEN’s Varuna.
The 40-45 foot segment looks to be dominated by a two very-different class battles. There are 19 Class 40s on the list, including Giovanni SOLDINI’s Telecom Italia (ITA), along with ten First 40.7s. The Class 40 specifies a minimum weight of 4,500kg and carries 115 square metres of upwind sail area with 120 sq m of asymetric spinnakers flown from a stayed carbon bowsprit, so for their size these boats are very fast. 40.7s are more cruiser/racers with close to 7,000 kg displacement and only around 70 sq m of upwind sail plan.
Sub-40 foot is equally a mixture of the sleek and fast, slow and stable. Perhaps, most surprisingly is that only one Contessa 32, James MOORE’s Katisha, is on the competitor roster this year. However, there are plenty of familiar faces including the overall winner of the Rolex Fastnet in 2005, Frenchman Jean Yves CHARLES and his Nicholson 33 Iromiguy. Iromiguy’s victory was the first time a boat under 40-foot boat had won the race in some thirty-years. Also competing is current RORC Commodore Andrew MCIRVINE on the Corby 36, Quokka.
As is tradition the Rolex Fastnet will start in Cowes and finish in Plymouth. There will be a change, though, once the yachts pass the breakwater in Plymouth Sound, with the majority of yachts being berthed in Sutton Harbour in the Barbican area of Plymouth.
The main trophy for overall victory in the Rolex Fastnet is the Fastnet Challenge Cup. In addition, there are more than thirty additional trophies that will be awarded at the prizegiving on Friday 14 August at the historic Royal Citadel, home of the 29 Commando Regiment Royal Artillery, overlooking Plymouth Harbour.
The first signal for the start of the 2009 Rolex Fastnet Race sounds at 11:50 BST on Sunday 9 August.
Further information about the RORC and the Rolex Fastnet Race can be found athttp://fastnet.rorc.org/ and competitors are encouraged to keep a close eye on these web pages since all administrative documentation and race notices will be posted there.
Trish Jenkins
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Rolex Fastnet Attracts Diverse Fleet
www.regattanews.com @ Thu May 14 08:42:00 2009
RAMBLER and ICAP LEOPARD, the first boats to round the Fastnet Rock
Photo credit: Rolex / Daniel Forster
As one would expect with so many yachts entered, the fleet is a broad cross-section of the international offshore racing scene, with the smallest yacht (Fore Winds from Poland) at 30ft (9.5m) up to the largest at 100 feet (30.5m). Crews range from the full on professional through the Corinthian racers to those just taking part for the adventure and challenge presented by the 608 nautical miles. Entries have been drawn from near and far. The allure of Rolex Fastnet continues to attract competitors from across Europe, the USA and, even, Hong Kong and Australia.
The highlight within the substantial fleet looks to be the current race record holder – Mike Slade’s Farr 100 ICAP Leopard (GBR), which has undergone some surgery since setting a time of 1 day, 20 hours, 18 minutes in 2007; given the right conditions she could well lop more time off the benchmark. Leopard will not be the only 100-footer on the line, Liara the Bill Dixon designed Performance Yachting 100 will be there too. Whilst Liara is performance oriented, she should be no match for a race-prepared Leopard, which looks likely to be cutting a lonely furrow at the head of the fleet unlike 2007 when it took until near the finish to shake off the smaller Rambler. Just behind the big boys will be a much-anticipated battle in the 65 to 75 foot mini-maxi range with the STP65s Rosebud (USA), winner of 2007 Rolex Sydney Hobart, and Luna Rossa (ITA), new this season, set to do battle with Ran (GBR) the 72-foot Judel/Vrolijk design owned by Nicklas Zennstrom of Skype fame.
The 2007 Rolex Fastnet overall winner was the Cookson 50, Chieftain. In this entry zone of 45 feet and up to the mini-maxis, there are number of modern and performance-oriented boats, including two Ker 46s – John Shepherd’s Fair Do’s VII (GBR) and Piet Vroon’s latest Tonnerre de Breskens (NED). Vroon is a former overall race winner, in 2001, the first year of Rolex’s partnership with the event. Amongst others, these seasoned campaigners will be up against three Rogers 46s, including past-Commodore David Aisher’s Yeoman XXXII and two German competitors, Chris Wuttke’s Guts ‘n’ Glory and Jens Kellinghusen’s Varuna.
The 40-45 foot segment looks to be dominated by a two very-different class battles. There are nineteen Class 40s on the list, including Giovanni Soldini’s Telecom Italia (ITA), along with ten First 40.7s. The Class 40 specifies a minimum weight of 4,500kg and carries 115 square metres of upwind sail area with 120 sq m of asymetric spinnakers flown from a stayed carbon bowsprit, so for their size these boats are very fast. 40.7s are more cruiser/racers with close to 7,000 kg displacement and only around 70 sq m of upwind sail plan.
Sub-40 foot is equally a mixture of the sleek and fast, slow and stable. Perhaps, most surprisingly is that only one Contessa 32, James Moore’s Katisha, is on the competitor roster this year. However, there are plenty of familiar faces including the overall winner of the Rolex Fastnet in 2005, Frenchman Jean Yves Charles and his Nicholson 33 Iromiguy. Iromiguy’s victory was the first time a boat under 40-foot boat had won the race in some thirty-years. Also competing is current RORC Commodore Andrew McIrvine on the Corby 36, Quokka.
As is tradition the Rolex Fastnet will start in Cowes and finish in Plymouth. There will be a change, though, once the yachts pass the breakwater in Plymouth Sound, with the majority of yachts being berthed in Sutton Harbour in the Barbican area of Plymouth.
The main trophy for overall victory in the Rolex Fastnet is the Fastnet Challenge Cup. In addition, there are more than thirty additional trophies that will be awarded at the prizegiving on Friday, 14 August at the historic Royal Citadel, home of the 29 Commando Regiment Royal Artillery, overlooking Plymouth Harbour.
The first signal for the start of the 2009 Rolex Fastnet Race sounds at 1150 BST on Sunday, 9 August.
Further information about the RORC and the Rolex Fastnet Race can be found at fastnet.rorc.org and competitors are encouraged to keep a close eye on these web pages since all administrative documentation and race notices will be posted there.
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THE SUPERYACHT CUP ANNOUNCES 2012 REGATTA IN COWES, UK
www.thesuperyachtcup.com @ Tue Apr 7 09:42:00 2009
Cowes, IOW ©Kos/kospictures.com
The four-day regatta will take place from 22-25 July 2012 and is open to superyachts over 24m. The Royal Yacht Squadron will be the Organising Authority responsible for providing the race management and course setting for the event. The Superyacht Cup team will manage the overall event including the social programme.
The regatta has been carefully planned to immediately precede the Opening Ceremony of the 2012 Olympics in London on 27 July 2009, and the start of the Olympic sailing races in Weymouth on 28 July. The participating yachts may opt after the event to head up the Thames to London for the Opening Ceremony, or alternatively to the sailing venue in Weymouth, where plans are being considered for Superyacht moorings to be made available to visiting yachts.
“The summer of 2012 in the UK is going to be the focus of many sporting, cultural and business activities, and with the help of the Royal Yacht Squadron we plan to host a very special event for superyachts from all over the world to join in the Olympic excitement. Cowes and the Solent are a world famous sailing venue and the perfect location for such a prestigious event” commented James Pleasance, SYC Marketing Director.
Full details of the racing and social schedule will be announced in due course. In the meantime, owners wishing to register their interest in competing in the 2012 Superyacht Cup are invited to contact the Superyacht Cup office in Palma, Mallorca at +34 971 70 87 95 or by email toinfo@thesuperyachtcup.com
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The Metre & Classic Keelboat Regatta - Cowes Classic Week 2009
Cowes Classic Week @ Fri Mar 6 12:29:00 2009
The event will again be closely co-ordinated with the British Classic Yacht Club Regatta being held during the same week and to which cruising yachts smaller than 30ft have been invited for the first time.
Racing will be co-ordinated by three principal Cowes yacht clubs: The Royal Yacht Squadron, The Royal London Yacht Club and the Royal Corinthian Yacht Club, each taking responsibility for different groups of boats on different race tracks under the management of the Solent’s top race officers.
The 2008 event was a resounding success with higher levels of participation than expected. This year’s event is now anticipated to grow substantially due to both a larger turnout from last year’s classes and through classes new to the event.
Feedback from competitors highlighted the benefits of committee boat starts and separate clearly defined race tracks without interference from other fleets with a mixture of windward-leeward, round-the-cans and inshore passage races contributing to the regatta ethos. A full social programme also engendered the formation of a classic boats community amongst owners and crew who have a remarkable passion for these boats.
So, picking the best from that experience and adding new ideas, Cowes Classic Week looks to grow in stature, become a major event on the International circuit and become a must-do event offering fun and excitement to owners and crew of these boats that have contributed so much to the history of sailing.
In addition to the established classes (6mR, 8mR, 12mR, Daring, Sunbeam, X One Design, Bembridge Redwing) a commitment has already been received from the Victories and Bembridge One Designs. Other classes are welcome and will get a class start with sufficient numbers or a class result in a mixed fleet. Or, individual representatives of any class may sail in a handicap fleet so that the event is inclusive for everybody eligible to race. For instance it is hoped that boats such as IODs, 30sq.m, and Tumlare will be represented – others such as Yorkshire One Design, Gareloch, Burnham One Design, Corinthian One Design, Classic Flying Fifteens and Dragons, etc. may wish to join in; they would be very welcome and serve to broaden awareness of these classes that exist all round the country.
The organisers are also aware that this visually spectacular and historically significant event generates an exceptionally high level of spectator interest. There will be plenty of opportunities for spectators to watch the racing from Cowes Green and to view the boats in the marinas before and after racing – a real benefit for the tourism economy of Cowes.
Naturally, these boats offer wonderful photo opportunities and we anticipate a substantial press contingent again as publishers from all media demand coverage.
A new web site for the event has been launched on which additional details will be posted as they become available www.cowesclassicweek.org and where all interested participants will find the necessary information and contact details.
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RORC myth of Malham (Round Eddystone) Race
@ Wed May 21 16:24:00 2008
Myth of Malham (Round Eddystone) Race
Organised by the Royal Ocean Racing Club in association with the Royal Yacht Squadron
START: Saturday 24th May from the RYS Cowes, to the East. First warning Signal 0820
COURSE: Eddystone Lighthouse (P), North Head and finish. Approximately 245 miles
RORC POINTS FACTOR: 1.20
At 245 nautical miles, the race around the Eddystone Lighthouse can take the smaller yachts about 48 hours. The race is a test of physical and mental endurance for the fleet with every likelihood of two nights at sea. If last weekend’s racing is anything to go by, this will be a very tactical race. Getting a good start is always important in any yacht race and the fleet will have many options open to them as they make their way from the Squadron Line, East up the Solent.
Heading down the south side of the Isle of Wight, tacticians will be looking at sailing angles, to clear St.Catherine’s’ Point and head towards the south west of England. Each boat will need to work out the effects of tide and wind to decide which is the quickest path to the Eddystone Lighthouse, close to Plymouth. Rounding the lighthouse to port, the fleet will turn back towards the Solent. The course could result in an Olympic triangle with a windward and leeward leg and a reach to finish which would create a interesting race, at every point of sail to test the competitors.
From France; Philippe Delaporte’s J/122, Pen Azen has been in scintillating form this season and will be looking to better their second overall last year. Noel Racine’s JPK 9.60, Foggy Dew, was well placed overall last year and won class. From Britain, John Shepherd’s Ker 46, Fair Do’s VII could feature and the Army Sailing Association’s A40RS, British Soldier is in consistent form. Piet Vroon’s Breskens based, Lutra 56, Formidable 3 could also be one to watch. In the two handed division, Michael Boyd & Niall Dowling’s J/105, Slingshot will be looking to continue a solid start to their 2008 campaign.
Myth of Malham was built for John Illingworth in 1947, to exploit the RORC rule. Many consider Illingworth to be the founder of modern yacht racing and his use of sail plan measurement is, to some extent, echoed by bowsprits being fitted to TP52s today. Myth of Malham went on to compete in five Admiral’s Cups, a record that has been achieved by no other yacht.
RORC Season’s Points Championship 2008
The Royal Ocean Racing Club’s Season’s Points Championship consists of a testing series of races which attracts an international and varied fleet. For the serious offshore sailor, trying to win the Season’s Points Championship is the real challenge. The Season’s Points Championship this year includes the tactically challenging BMW Round Ireland Race and a new addition to the RORC sailing programme, The Cowes Madeira Race which offers an exciting opportunity of a race to Madeira and back, some 1500 miles away in the Atlantic off the coast of Africa. For those with less time, the programme also includes a race to the charming port of La Rochelle.
For the full RORC racing programme go to:http://www.rorc.org
