A century of extreme & romance
The Fastnet Race is a test of maritime maturity. The race began a hundred years ago with a bold experiment — a journey around the mysterious Fastnet Rock off the southwest coast of Ireland. The idea was as simple as all great ideas: gentlemen decided that racing along the coast was pleasant but boring, so they set off from the Isle of Wight to Fastnet and then back to Plymouth. It was a pure adventure, considering the modest boats by today's standards that participated in the competition and the conditions faced by the founders of what would become a classic offshore race. They did not have any of the modern conveniences that today's racers enjoy: satellite phones, emergency radio beacons (EPIRB), online weather forecasts, coast guard support, and much more.
In the first race, the 48-foot wooden gaff-rigged tender Jolie Brise won, completing the distance in 6 days and 3 hours. Although it was clear from the start that the journey to the solitary rock was no easy stroll, the number of participants grew each year. For decades, the route became shrouded in legends, boats became faster, and sailors increasingly obsessed. As the old captains said, "We race not for prizes, but for the right to say: I have completed the Fastnet."
Then came the fateful August of 1979. Meteorologists warned of "intensifying depression," but no one expected that the fleet would be hit by torrential rains. A storm with a force of 11 broke masts, people, and destinies. It was no longer a race but a struggle for survival in the chaos of giant waves. Of the 303 yachts that started, only 86 reached the finish line. Five boats sank, and 15 racers lost their lives. Ted Turner, who won that race on the yacht Tenacious, later recalled, "I was closer to death than ever before. And I had never been so scared... But at the same time, I had never felt more alive. It's a strange combination you experience when you find yourself on the edge."
As is well known, all safety rules are written in blood. The tragic Fastnet Race of 1979 forever changed offshore racing, tightening requirements for yacht construction, safety equipment, and crew training. Since then, the Fastnet has become synonymous not only with courage and endurance but also with ultimate responsibility. Today, the famous offshore race attracts a huge and diverse fleet, including carbon monsters that cover the 695-mile distance in just a day or two, setting records that were unimaginable a century ago. Technology has also advanced. Crews are dressed in high-tech waterproof suits, and tactics are dictated by computer models. But, as one veteran joked, "In the decisive moment, you are still left alone with the wind, the sails, and your own foolishness."
The finish line, despite the dissatisfaction of conservative fans, was moved from Plymouth to the French port of Cherbourg for commercial reasons. However, the essence of the race remained unchanged: behind the professional teams, there is still a queue of hundreds of amateur crews eager to take on the Fastnet and pass their personal exam.
The centennial anniversary of the Fastnet Race was celebrated with a spectacle worthy of legends. And although the weather was more forgiving than in previous years, the race was no easier and turned into a psychological marathon for the participants, where every minute required exceptional self-control and meticulous work with the wind and currents.
As expected, the largest yachts were the first to cross the finish line in Cherbourg. The trimaran SVR Lazartigue (ULTIM 32) won the prize for the first finish based on actual time with a result of 41 hours and 18 minutes. At the helm of this powerful racing machine was the tireless Peter Burling, the star of the last three America’s Cups. Among the monohull yachts, a fierce battle unfolded: the 100-foot maxis Black Jack 100 (Reichel/Pugh 30 Custom) from Monaco and SHK Scallywag (Maxi Dovell) from Hong Kong raced neck and neck almost to the Fastnet Rock. However, on the return leg, under full sail, the crew of Black Jack executed their tactics more accurately, avenging last year's defeat at the Middle Sea Race. Thus, the 2025 race confirmed: Fastnet is not about brute force. "Here, you have to think faster than your yacht is moving," noted one participant. The captain of Black Jack summed it up: "I have dreamed of this my whole life. This is not just a victory; it's history."
A special highlight this year was the return of the Admiral’s Cup, which had not been contested for over 20 years. Professional teams in this division fought for every second. When the yacht club of Monaco’s team won with the yacht Jolt 6 (Carkeek Fast 40), it seemed that the overall prize based on the IRC rating would also go to them. However, a 10-meter Léon (JPK Composites) intervened in the events, finishing the next day. Optimized for double-handed racing, this boat is a true weapon in the right hands. And those hands couldn't have been better: Alexis Loison and Jean-Pierre Kelber are experienced offshore racers. Moreover, Loison is a hero from Cherbourg. He had already won the Fastnet in 2013, becoming the first in history to win as part of a two-person crew.
The race was not easy for the French. According to Loison, it was "tension without sleep or rest, strategy, strategy, and more strategy." The key decision was to set a large spinnaker immediately after rounding the rock. With winds of 25-27 knots, it was a risk, but it paid off, and by the time they reached the Isles of Scilly, Léon was sailing among much larger boats. When Léon entered the port of Cherbourg, it didn't just win; it caused a sensation, arriving two hours (!) ahead of the nearest competitor based on corrected time.
For Loison, this victory was particularly emotional. Waiting for him at the dock was his father, with whom he won the race twelve years ago. "It was something special to see my father on the pier. He is my main teacher. In 2013, he took our prize — the Rolex watch — for himself, saying that I was still young and could win both the race and the watch again. Now it has happened." His story embodies the very essence of the Fastnet: the continuity of generations, incredible perseverance, and a dream that, once born, accompanies a racer for a lifetime.
