In August every other year in odd years the Fastnet Race takes place. Once every two years the emblematic lighthouse in the Celtic Sea marks the important turning point in the race of the same name with its 608 mile course between Cowes and Plymouth. Six boats registered for the next Vendée Globe are due to line up at the start on Sunday 14th August for the 44th edition of this British classic, which is one of the most popular ways for skippers to see how they are doing in what are very unpredictable waters… A good opportunity for Bernard Stamm to enter his first race aboard his brand new Cheminées Poujoulat, and for Armel Le Cléac’h to make his return to the circuit at the helm of Banque Populaire (ex-Foncia). The Fastnet is going to rock.
Among those returning to this ocean classic which takes place every two years, Marc Guillemot (Safran) and Vincent Riou (PRB) cannot hide the pleasure they feel of taking part doing something useful and fun at the same time: measuring up the competition and seeing the results of their winter refits and all the work that has been done in a race, which is always an enjoyable event. Since its first edition in 1925, the Rolex Fastnet Race has acquired a solid reputation and is something very special for all sailors. “In 2009, we rounded the Fastnet at breakfast time and there was a real battle raging between the 60-foot boats. It’s always a pleasure for any sailor to get around the big rock with its lighthouse and boiling waters. It’s a magical place " said the skipper of Safran, who finished in third place.
The Fastnet double-handed for the Vendée Globe solo sailors
With a crew or double-handed, anything goes in the Fastnet Race, which is breaking records this year with more than 350 boats expected to take part. In the IMOCA division, of course they are tending to go for double-handed sailing: firstly because the Transat Jacques Vabre is coming up and also because double-handed sailing is closer to solo sailing. For the event, Marc Guillemot (Safran), Armel Le Cléac’h (Banque Populaire) and Bernard Stamm (Cheminées Poujoulat) will be present with their crew mate for this autumn’s transatlantic race to sail their ocean racer from the Solent to the Scillies and up to the famous Rock. As for Vincent Riou, he will be aided and abetted by a very talented sailor on PRB, none other than a certain Jean Le Cam. As for Jean-Pierre Dick (Virbac-Paprec 3), whose future co-skipper Jérémie Beyou is currently racing in the Solitaire du Figaro, he will be joining up with a young talent: Guillaume Le Brec. Finally, among the future competitors of the non-stop solo round the world race, there is just one British representative, Alex Thomson. Aboard Hugo Boss, he will be racing with a determined competitor, who is used to offshore racing: the Catalonian sailor Guillermo Altadill.
If we look at the achievements of these competitors, who are used to sailing 60-foot boats in the Vendée Globe, these 608 miles look like being exciting and should be very instructive. We can be certain that the new Cheminées Poujoulat,the most recent IMOCA boat designed by Juan Kouyoumdjian, will be noticed. In the middle of her fine-tuning, the waters of the Fastnet should throw some light on her power … and her potential.
IMOCAs taking part in the 2011 Rolex Fastnet Race
- Banque Populaire (Armel Le Cléac’h / Christopher Pratt)
- Cheminées Poujoulat (Bernard Stamm / Jean-François Cuzon)
- Hugo Boss (Alex Thomson / Guillermo Altadill)
- PRB (Vincent Riou / Jean Le Cam)
- Safran (Marc Guillemot / Yann Eliès)
- Virbac-Paprec 3 (Jean-Pierre Dick / Guillaume Le Brec)
- DCNS 1000 (Marc Thiercelin / Luc Alphand)
