Rolex Fastnet Race 2009

Rolex Fastnet Race 2009
Website - www.regattanews.com - Übersicht

10.08.2009
ARTEMIS OCEAN RACING LEADS IMOCA 60 FLEET AROUND LAND’S END
British sailing star Sam Davies in front of rivals in the Rolex Fastnet Race

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Artemis Ocean Racing today passed Land’s End and was leading the world class fleet of IMOCA 60’s in the 2009 Rolex Fastnet Race. It has been a tight battle along the South West Coast of England for British skipper Sam Davies, co-skipper Sidney Gavignet (FRA) and their crew in suitable challenging and changing conditions. All the hard work has paid off as the newly modified Artemis Ocean Racing claimed pole position at the front of the IMOCA 60 fleet as they rounded the foot of England and head West across the Irish sea to the Fastnet Rock.

Foto: Sam Davies

Sam Davies commented: “We were really, really proud to be first out of the Solent, or joint first with BT because we were really neck and neck. Quite thankful to be sailing with a crew especially on this trip as it’s been really full on and lots of energetic manoeuvres – tacks, gybes, stacking… Physically it’s tough and mentally it’s quite hard as well because the wind has not really done what it was forecast to do, so it’s been a bit of ‘seat of your pants’ sailing.”

“We’re going upwind in 15-20 knots of wind and we’ve got wind against tide. We’re sailing fast upwind so Artemis Ocean Racing is bouncing off each wave. Now the wind has built the boat speed should come a bit more easily with our nice wide, powerful lady! We have really poor visibility so we can’t actually see the other boats even though they are only a couple of miles away. So it was a nice surprise when I finally managed to log on and saw our position and discovered that we’d gone round Land’s End in first place! I did run out on a deck with a little bit of excitement for 30 seconds! But it’s all so close and there’s still a lot to do. We will try and get the most out of this upwind leg as we know that’s where we are quite strong, in order to have as much in the bag as possible for the lighter downwind bit on the way back from the ‘rock’. I’m hoping that here in the Irish Sea we will have more steady conditions as it is going to be really important for us all to get rested.”

The Rolex Fastnet Race saw over 300 boats start from the Isle of Wight on Sunday, including a fleet of eleven IMOCA 60s, boasting some of the greatest names in offshore racing for this event, and all vying for glory in this historic race. This is the first major event for Britain’s newest sailing star Sam Davies onboard her new steed Artemis Ocean Racing, having recently finished fourth in the gruelling solo round the world race, the Vendée Globe. It is 200 miles from Land’s End to Fastnet Rock and Sam estimates reaching the ‘rock’ around 0600-0700 BST tomorrow.

For their stable mate, Artemis: The Profit Hunter, it has also been a close and exciting first 24 hours onboard. Skipper Simon Clay has a full crew of young British talent building experience in the IMOCA 60 Class, including 19 year old British sailor Oscar Mead, who recently made his name in the OSTAR, as well as Ben Rogerson who has just returned from a record breaking circumnavigation of Britain and Ireland in a Mini 6.5. Artemis The Profit Hunter is ranked in 7th place, and should pass Land’s End in the next couple of hours.

The Rolex Fastnet Race is marking the thirty year anniversary since the infamous 1979 race that saw the fleet of amateur and professional sailors ravaged by a horrendous storm, resulting in one of the biggest offshore rescue operations on record and fifteen lives lost at sea.

The Artemis Ocean Racing team is committed to supporting British offshore sailing talent across a number of events and classes, including Jonny Malbon in La Solitaire de Figaro, Ollie Bond in the Mini Transat and Sam Davies in IMOCA 60.
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