A New Year, a New Record
It’s a special year – the 50th edition of the Rolex Fastnet – and the new race entry system for the “world’s largest offshore yacht race” coped admirably. In the first hour alone, 433 entries signed up – a promising sign that a record size fleet might be at the start line on Saturday the 22nd July!
Registration closes on the 14th of April, by which time it is highly possible the list tops 500 boats. Yachts will still need to log the required number of race miles and qualify, but surely this will translate into a record breaking busy start line at Cowes.
At the time of writing this, the shortest vessel to enter is a 6.5m Classe Mini, and the longest the 30m trimaran Banque Populaire skippered by 2016-17 Vendée Globe winner Armel le Cléac’h.
The 50th edition of the world’s largest offshore race will start from the Royal Yacht Squadron line on Saturday 22nd July, 2023, a week before the annual Cowes Week festivities. The large fleet will complete the 690 nautical mile course from Cowes to Cherbourg-en-Cotentin, rounding the famous Fastnet Rock. Cherbourg should see the first arrivals from the 23rd of July, and the race culminates in a memorable prizegiving to mark the 50th Rolex Fastnet Race in Cherbourg on Friday 28th July 2023.
The 50th edition of the Rolex Fastnet Race is organised by the Royal Ocean Racing Club. If you want to see the race start from Cowes, then get in touch for skippered Rib charter options. We’ll get you up close to the start line and follow the yachts as they race West, leaving The Solent through The Needles Channel.
Get on the water to watch the race start at 1200hrs on Saturday 22nd July 2023. Call on 01590 674900 or email admin@solent-events.co.uk for more information.
