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Rolex Fastnet Race

COWES/PLYMOUTH, UK

August 11 - 16, 2013

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THE SYMBOL

The Rolex Fastnet Race was first run in 1925. The symbol of this 608-nautical mile race is the Fastnet Rock, located off the southern coast...

LONG TRADITION

The oldest offshore race in Europe, the Rolex Fastnet has become a sporting classic. The race starts from one of yachting’s most famous...

PASSAGE PLAN

The testing course passes several famous landmarks on the south coast of England. Initially, the race heads westward down The Solent,...

THREADING NEEDLES

As the fleet leaves the notable rock formations of The Needles to port, it enters the next phase in the race: the series of headlands and...

TURNING POINT

The legs across the Celtic Sea to and from the Fastnet Rock are long and unpredictable. Openly exposed to fast moving Atlantic weather...

LASTING MEMORY

The Fastnet Rock has significant standing in the minds of competitors, and is viewed as the halfway mark, even though the actual distance...

FASTEST FINISHERS

In 2007 ICAP Leopard became the first monohull yacht to reach Plymouth in less than 48 hours, breaking a totem barrier unimaginable back in...

SPEED KING

In 2011 Abu Dhabi skippered by British yachtsman and double Olympic medallist Ian Walker set a new monohull race record of 42 hours 39...

HIGH ACHIEVER

Against mounting odds, in 2011, Niklas Zennstrom's 72-foot Rán 2 from the United Kingdom became the fourth yacht to claim successive...

LONG ODDS

Despite her pedigree, the odds are stacked against Rán 2. The rating system applied to the fleet means all yachts have a chance at the...

MASS APPEAL

Recent races have seen in excess of 300 international yachts measuring upwards of 10-metres/30-foot participating. A record number of 380...

TENSE COMPETITION

Competition throughout the fleet is always intense. 2007 witnessed one of the great battles at the head of the race as George David's...

DESERVED PRIZES

The level of competition is unsurprising. An astonishing array of silverware is on offer to the top performing yachts. The fastest yacht...

ENDURING RELATIONSHIP

Rolex has been title sponsor of the biennial event since 2001, recently extending its involvement in the event until 2021.

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April 11, 2013

IN FOCUS: 2013 ROLEX FASTNET RACE

One of sailing’s greatest contests reconvenes in August in the shape of the 45th edition of the Rolex Fastnet Race. A sporting...

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