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Royal Ocean Racing Club
ROLEX FASTNET RACE NEWS
29 July 2011 - Issue 3
15 days until the start of the Rolex Fastnet Race
It's just over two weeks to go until the start of the 44th edition of the Rolex
Fastnet Race which has attracted a record breaking fleet. For those not able to
take part, the Virtual Fastnet will allow 'armchair enthusiasts' to negotiate the
608 nautical mile course from the safety of their own living room. Once signed up,
you can choose the name of your yacht, plan your strategy and see how you fare against
a huge fleet. The last edition of the race attracted an incredible 27,000 virtual
entries, with the winner completing the course in an impressive three days and 18
hours. Course weather forecasts will be updated twice daily at 0700 and 1900 so
be warned, this game is very addictive! Look out for the Virtual Fastnet play/sign
in button which will go live soon: http://fastnet.rorc.org/
Fastnet Veteran Ken Makes it 27
Record Breaking Competitor, Ken Newman has raced in the Fastnet since 1957 Credit:
Rolex/Carlo Borlenghi
Few competitors taking part in this year's Rolex Fastnet Race will have as much
experience as Ken Newman. He will be competing in his 27th Fastnet Race with his
Swan 46, Marinero. He explains why he keeps coming back for more!
"Looking back over the years and having competed in innumerable long distance ocean
races, for me the Fastnet is the best event in the racing calendar. It's like four
or five races put together, each one requiring difficult tactical decisions to be
made. The crucial components are a well-found boat, a competent crew, safety and
sea-room. The ability to get along with others is key to a successful race. I mostly
sleep at the nav. station and remember being woken up at change of watch by the
laughter going on between the crew, great guffaws of laughter and I thought well,
this is what it's all about, that's the sort of camaraderie that I've been privileged
to know. I'm a very, very lucky man...if you want to learn about someone, take them
sailing," says Newman.
Newman, from Cowes on the Isle of Wight, has competed since 1957, racing in every
Fastnet, bar one. In 2009 as an octogenarian, was presented for the third time with
the Denis Doyle Memorial Salver by the RORC Commodore, Andrew McIrvine for the skipper
who has taken part in the greatest number of Fastnets.
He is also very proud to have his name on another of the special awards - the Ken
Newman Endurance Salver which is awarded to the yacht with the longest elapsed time,
in commemoration of Ken's first, and in his view, toughest Fastnet, in even rougher
seas than the infamous 1979 Fastnet.
Over the years, he has sailed in 19 different boats, navigated in two Admiral Cup's
teams, Japan, (1983), USA, , (1987) and crewed twice for Britain in (1971) and
(1973). In a rather gentle 1975 Fastnet, he was part of the crew on Edward Heath's
Ken is great inspiration to all landlubbers as he only began sailing at the age
of 27. A specialist consultant in cement and concrete, as a young man he was mad
keen on rugby, playing full back from Rosslyn Park. In the 2011 Rolex Fastnet Race,
Ken will compete with his yacht Marinero, a Swan 46 racing in IRC 3.
Follow the 2011 Rolex Fastnet Race
Tune into Fastnet Radio at the start (87.7FM), finish (87.9FM) and online
START TIMES: The start of the Rolex Fastnet Race is on Sunday 14 August 2011 from
the Royal Yacht Squadron line in Cowes. Racing begins at 1100 for the multihull
fleet, followed at 1110 by the IMOCA 60 round the world yachts and at 1120 by the
Class 40s. The IRC classes set off at staggered intervals from 1130, with the largest
yachts, IRC Zero and Canting Keel + Volvo 70s starting at 1240 and 1300 respectively.
WHERE TO WATCH THE START:
The best vantage points of the start will be along Cowes Green, The Parade and Egypt
Esplanade on Cowes, the Isle of Wight. As the fleet funnels out of the Solent there
will be a good chance to see the yachts from Yarmouth on the Isle of Wight, and
Hurst Castle on the indexland. Further along the coast Anvil Point, St Alban's head,
and Portland Bill should also give a good view of the race on its outbound leg.
FASTNET RADIO: Follow the Rolex Fastnet Race with full coverage on Fastnet Radio
87.7FM. Beginning with live commentary from the Cowes start line on Sunday 14th
August. You can also listen online throughout the race: http://fastnet.rorc.org/
and broadcasting 24 hours a day in Plymouth on 87.9FM. Reporters will be live from
the docks with all the breaking race news, features and link-ups with race teams
out on the course as well as updates on the progress of arrivals.
RACE WEBSITE: The easiest way to follow the fleet is via the Race minisite: http://fastnet.rorc.org.
The latest news updates, blogs from the boats, images, race reports and positions, as
well as information from the race course can be found on the mini-site. Images from
the fleet and texts from the boats themselves are all part of an initiative to make
the race more interactive for family and friends and those following the fleet.
TRACKING: Watch the Rolex Fastnet Race unfold online with the fleet tracker. Trackers
are fitted to every yacht so you can see each boat's position along the course.
View by class or select your favourites to follow friends and family, check out
their boat speed and weather conditions in real time, read the social media feed
and see how the live leader board is developing: http://fastnet.rorc.org
RACE VILLAGE PLYMOUTH: The Rolex Fastnet Race Village will welcome everyone and
visitors are encouraged to come down to the Race Village, sited near the Mayflower
Steps, to watch daily prizegivings taking place at midday on the index stage, video
played out on the screen and to meet and greet sailors from around the world, as
well as those closer to home. Famous yachtsman will mix and mingle with 'corinthian'
sailors whose crew is made up of friends and families - all taking part for different
reasons, but mostly to achieve this very special sailing goal.
FACEBOOK & TWITTER: Fans can also follow the race via Twitter and Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/RoyalOceanRacingClub
TR2011 Transatlantic Race Visitors
The crew is made up of three families on board Rives Potts' Rhodes 48, Carina.
Credit: Daniel Forster
No less than 20 yachts that competed in the recent Transatlantic Race 2011 will
be racing in this year's Rolex Fastnet Race. Two of the yachts are sure to provide
one of the biggest battles on the racecourse: George David's Rambler 100, (USA)
and Mike Slade's ICAP Leopard (GBR). However, all of the yachts that completed the
Transatlantic Race will have crew fully tuned up for offshore racing and ready for
the Rolex Fastnet.
Lloyd Thornburg, owner of the Gunboat 66, Phaedo (USA) is looking forward to lining
up against some astonishing multihulls. "It was hard enough getting past Maltese
Falcon in the Transatlantic Race, but we have no chance of holding off the 140'
trimaran Maxi, two MOD 70s and others. There is a fantastic line-up." His crew
is bolstered by two America's Cup sailors, Andy Beadsworth will be calling tactics
and Ian Moore navigating for the race.
Karl Kwok's, Beau Geste also raced across the Atlantic and will be looking to use
every inch of their waterline length in IRC Class Zero. As the largest boat in their
class, the Farr 80 will be happiest in big breeze and reaching conditions, but they
have serious competition, including 2009 overall winners RAN, skippered by Niklas
Zennstrom (GBR).
Rives Potts' McCurdy Rhodes 48, Carina (USA), had a spectacular crossing, battling
against the Army Sailing Association's A 40, British Soldier and their duel is sure
to continue during the Rolex Fastnet Race.Carina will be sailed by three families
and are competing in the largest division of all, IRC Class Two which has 73 yachts
entered.
Ocean Rower Exchanges Oars for Sails
Record holding ocean rower, Elin Haf Davies is turning her hand to offshore sailing
in the race: "The Rolex Fasnet Race is my first opportunity to take to the seas
using sails rather than oars! I want to see how it compares. I am hoping be persuaded
that sailing is an easier way to go. To have the opportunity to join RORC Commodore,
Andrew McIrvine and his experienced crew is beyond anything that this Welsh nurse
could have ever wished for!"
For the seasoned sailor, this race is an opportunity to take on one of the biggest,
offshore classics in the world of yacht racing. For an ocean-rower without any sailing
experience, like Elin Haf Davies from North Wales, it will be a challenge of huge
proportions!
Luckily, Elin is in good hands under the command of Andrew McIrvine and his crew
racing the Beneteau First 40, La Réponse. Elin is no stranger to the ocean and
extreme adventures: In 2007, she rowed across the Atlantic Ocean completing 2552
miles in a 24 foot boat in an all female pair. Dubbed the 'Nautical Nurses', the
journey took 77 days 7 hours and 37 minutes. The girls conquered 40ft waves, scorching
heat and narrow misses with cargo ships. Elin landed in Antigua to become the first
Welsh woman to ever row across the Atlantic Ocean.
Fourteen months later, Elin joined team 'Ocean Angels' to set a world record by
becoming the first all female crew to row 3139 miles across the Indian Ocean - taking
78 days, 15 hours and 54 minutes. The girls were battered by the elements, faced
heavy storms that broke vital equipment and injured one of the crew, but continued
on their quest blessed with an amazing team spirit. More people have been to space
than have rowed an ocean - let alone two oceans!
"My first sailing experience was at Easter, when RORC Commodore Andrew McIrvine
kindly took me under his sailing wing! Although sailing was completely new to me,
life at sea wasn't as I'd rowed across the Atlantic Ocean and the Indian Ocean previously.
In trying to persuade Andrew of the merits of having a complete sailing novice in
his crew, I hoped that my expertise in making tea in rough seas was a skill that
would appeal to even the most demanding of skippers." comments Elin. When Elin
is not out at sea, she's a PhD educated children's nurse working for the European
Medicine Agency in London. http://www.nurseelin.co.uk/
Provisional Entry List
ICAP Leopard leads the fleet out of the Solent in the 2009 Rolex Fastnet Race. Credit:
Rolex/Carlo Borlenghi
Rolex Fastnet Race Programme of Events
Wednesday 10 Aug Event Press Officer on site in Media Centre, Cowes Yacht Haven
Thursday 11 Aug
15.00 - Rolex Fastnet Race Press Conference for Accredited Media, Max Aitkin Museum,
Cowes High Street
Saturday 13 Aug
16.00 - Skippers' Briefing - The Events Centre, Cowes Yacht Haven, Cowes
Sunday 14 Aug START of the 2011 ROLEX FASTNET RACE
08.00 - Rolex Fastnet Race Press Office opens in Cowes Yacht Haven Media Centre
08.30 - Rolex Fastnet Race Press Office opens in Sutton Harbour, The Barbican, Plymouth
09.30 - Press Boats Depart (check in Media Centre, Cowes Yacht Haven prior to this)
10.50 - First Warning Signal - Royal Yacht Squadron, Cowes
11.00 - First start 2011 Rolex Fastnet Race
20.00 Rolex Fastnet Race Press Office closes in Cowes Yacht Haven
Monday 15 Aug
Press office open in Plymouth
1400 - Plymouth Rolex Fastnet Race Village opens
PM Live music at the regatta centre
Tuesday 16 Aug
AM First multihulls expected to arrive in Plymouth, early morning
1200 - Prizegiving for the winning multihull at the regatta centre
PM Live music at the regatta centre
2130 - British Firework Championships, viewable from Sutton Harbour
Wednesday 17 Aug
0718 - Current race record for the monohull class - will it be beaten this year?
1200 - Prizegiving for the first monohull at the regatta centre
PM Live music at the regatta centre
2130 - British Firework Championships, viewable from Sutton Harbour
Thursday 18 Aug
All day Fleet continues to finish in Plymouth
1200 - Prizegiving at the regatta centre
PM Majority of the fleet begin to arrive in Sutton Harbour
Live music at the regatta centre
Friday 19 Aug
All day Fleet continues to finish in Plymouth
AM Fleet continues to arrive in Sutton Harbour
1700 - Race prizegiving at the Royal Citadel (race crew and guests only)
PM Live music at the regatta centre
Saturday 20 Aug
Fleet berthed in Sutton Harbour Marina 1700
Press Office closes, Sutton Harbour, The Barbican, Plymouth
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