Since 2007Every 2 yearsCrewedRecord 1 d 08 h 38 min
Rolex Fastnet Race
Crewed non-stop offshore race created in 1925 and run by the Royal Ocean Racing Club, from Cowes round Fastnet Rock to the finish (Plymouth, then Cherbourg since 2021).
Crewed non-stop offshore race created in 1925 and run by the Royal Ocean Racing Club, from Cowes round Fastnet Rock to the finish (Plymouth, then Cherbourg since 2021).
The Fastnet Race was born in 1925 on the initiative of British journalist Weston Martyr, inspired by the American Bermuda Race. On 15 August 1925 seven boats started from Ryde and the cutter Jolie Brise won. A club was formed to run an annual race of at least 600 miles; it became the Royal Ocean Racing Club in 1931. The start later moved to Cowes.
From 1939 the course heads west without rounding the Isle of Wight, rounds Fastnet Rock off south-west Ireland and finishes at Plymouth. From 1957 to 1999 it closed the Admiral's Cup. It has been held every two years, in odd years, since 1995.
The 1979 edition was the most tragic: on 14 August a force 10 to 11 storm hit the 306 starters, causing 75 knockdowns, five sinkings and 18 deaths.
With a fleet that includes Ultime multihulls, Ocean Fifties, IMOCAs, Class40s and many IRC-rated boats, the finish has moved to Cherbourg since 2021, for a course of about 695 miles. The Plymouth-course record (1 d 4 h 2 min 26 s) was set in 2019 by Maxi Edmond de Rothschild; on the Cherbourg course SVR-Lazartigue set the record in 2023 (1 d 8 h 38 min 27 s). The centenary 2025 edition was won in real time by SVR-Lazartigue.
8 sources · updated 3 Nov 2026
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Source: Rolex Fastnet Race - Spindrift 2 wins (opens in a new tab)
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Source: Résultats Rolex Fastnet Race 2025 (class40.com) (opens in a new tab)
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Source: Résultats Rolex Fastnet Race 2019 (class40.com) (opens in a new tab)
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Source: Résultats Rolex Fastnet Race 2013 (class40.com) (opens in a new tab)
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Source: Résultats Rolex Fastnet Race 2021 (class40.com) (opens in a new tab)
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Source: Résultats Rolex Fastnet Race 2017 (class40.com) (opens in a new tab)
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Source: Résultats Rolex Fastnet Race 2015 (class40.com) (opens in a new tab)
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