Fastnet race
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Fastnet race is a yachting race in the United Kingdom. It is considered one of the classic offshore races. It happens every two years, and is a course of 608 miles. The course is unusual, as it begins off Cowes, travels to the Fastnet Rock off the southwest coast of Ireland, which they round, and then back to Plymouth via the south side of the Isles of Scilly. The prize is known as the Fastnet Challenge Cup.
The first Fastnet race, with seven entries, was won by Jolie Brise in 1925.
The race was part of the Admiral's Cup racing series from 1957 to 1999.
The International Offshore Rule (IOR) was introduced in 1973, and the yachts and crews began taking sponsorships.
Storms during the 1979 race resulted in the deaths of 17 competitors. This led to a major overhaul of the rules and the equipment required for the competition.
The race drew further attention from outside the sport in 1985 when the maxi-yacht Drum capsized after her experimental keel sheared off. Pop star Simon Le Bon, co-owner and crew member of Drum, was trapped under the hull with five other crew members for twenty minutes, until being rescued by the Royal Navy. The Search and Rescue Diver was Petty Officer Air Crewman (POACMN) Larry "Scouse" Slater of 771 Naval Air Squadron who appeared on This Is Your Life on 9 April 1986.
[edit] Fastnet 2005
The 2005 race was sponsored by Rolex and is organised by the Royal Ocean Racing Club with the Royal Yacht Squadron and the Royal Western Yacht Club, Plymouth. The next race will start in August 2007.
[edit] Winners
| Year | Yacht | Owner | Designer | Nationality |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1925 | Jolie Brise | Lt Cdr E. G. Martin | Paumelle |  United Kingdom |
| 1926 | Ilex | Royal Engineers | United Kingdom |
|
| 1927 | Tally Ho | Lord Stalbridge | Albert Strange | United Kingdom |
| 1928 | Nina | Starling Burgess |  United States |
|
| 1929 | Jolie Brise | Lt Cdr E.G.Martin | Paumelle | United Kingdom |
| 1930 | Jolie Brise | Lt Cdr E.G.Martin | Paumelle | United Kingdom |
| 1931 | Dorade [1] | Stephens | Sparkman & Stephens | United States |
| 1933 | Dorade | Stephens | Sparkman & Stephens | United States |
| 1935 | Stormy Weather [2] | Sparkman & Stephens | United States |
|
| 1937 | Zeearend | Kees Bruynzeel | Sparkman & Stephens |  Netherlands |
| 1939 | Bloodhound | Ikey Bell | Camper and Nicholson | United Kingdom |
| 1947 | Myth of Malham | Capt. J.H.Illingworth | J. Laurent Giles | United Kingdom |
| 1949 | Myth of Malham | Capt. J.H.Illingworth | J. Laurent Giles | United Kingdom |
| 1951 | Yeoman | Owen Aisher | Camper & Nicholson | United Kingdom |
| 1953 | Favona | Sir Michael Newton | Robert Clark | United Kingdom |
| 1955 | Carina[disambiguation needed] | Dick Nye | Phillip Rhodes | United States |
| 1957 | Carina | Dick Nye | Phillip Rhodes | United States |
| 1959 | Anitra | Sven Hansen | Sparkman and Stephens |  Sweden |
| 1961 | Zwerver II | Sparkman & Stephens | Netherlands |
|
| 1963 | Clarion of Wight [3] | Derek Boyer DFC | Sparkman & Stephens | United Kingdom |
| 1965 | Rabbit | Dick Carter | Dick Carter | United States |
| 1967 | Pen Duick III | Eric Tabarly | Chantier La Perrière |  France |
| 1969 | Red Rooster | Dick Carter | Dick Carter | United States |
| 1971 | Ragamuffin | Syd Fisher | Sparkman & Stephens |  Australia |
| 1973 | Saga | Erling Lorentsen | Sparkman & Stephens |  Brazil |
| 1975 | Golden Delicious | Richard & Harvey Bagnall | Ron Holland | United Kingdom |
| 1977 | Imp | David Allen | Ron Holland | United States |
| 1979 | Tenacious [4] | Ted Turner | Sparkman & Stephens | United States |
| 2001 | Tonnerre de Breskens | Piet Vroon | Lutra Design Group | Netherlands |
| 2003 | Nokia | Charles Dunstone | Reichel & Pugh | United Kingdom |
| 2005 | Iromiguy | Jean-Yves Chateau | Ron Holland | France |
[edit] External links
- Royal Engineers Museum History of Royal Engineers Sports
