Monohull time set for Fastnet Race

(August 10, 2021) – Dmitry Rybolovlev’s ClubSwan 125 Skorpios took line honours in the Rolex Fastnet Race this evening, after crossing the finish line in Cherbourg at 2015 BST. Their total elapsed time for completing the new 695 nautical mile course from Cowes to Cherbourg, now the monohull benchmark time, was 2 days, 8 hours, 35 minutes, and 5 seconds.

Competing in her first offshore race, the recently launched Skorpios came through a brutal first 12 hours of the race in good shape. As the breeze softened, Skorpios extended away from her chief rivals for line honors including previous winner George David’s Rambler 88 and the strong IMOCA fleet.

Having only started sailing in the last few years, this was owner Dmitry Rybolovlev’s first offshore race which he experienced with his daughter Anna Rybolovleva, also her first time offshore racing.

“We’re very pleased with the boat, the team was great. We want to thank the whole team for such great efforts. We were trying to stay conservative, especially in the high wind at the start, but we’re excited to see what the boat can do in future races. Rounding the Fastnet Rock was kind of magical, it felt like a really special moment.”

Skipper Fernando Echavarri was relieved to have come through the Rolex Fastnet Race with the boat intact. “The boat is very strong, we backed off on speed coming out of the Solent, but so was everyone else,” said the Spanish professional. “We had an idea of what the boat might be able to do, but we didn’t know for sure, so we learned a lot on this race.

“The owner is super happy, he’s a good sailor but new to offshore sailing and he enjoyed the experience a lot. I think there is a very good chance we will be back for the Rolex Fastnet Race.”

Yesterday the 32m long Ultime Maxi Edmond de Rothschild set the outright benchmark time for the race’s new longer course of 1 days 9 hours 15 minutes and 54 seconds. The winning effort was led by co-skippers Franck Cammas and Charles Caudrelier with crew David Boileau, Erwan Israel, Morgan Lagraviere, and Yann Riou.

Race information – Tracker – Facebook

The 49th edition of the biennial Rolex Fastnet Race started from the Royal Yacht Squadron line on August 8 in Cowes, UK with the finish line moved from Plymouth, UK to Cherbourg, France, extending the distance from 608 to 695 nm. The 2021 race had 337 starters from 24 nations including Japan, Mexico, and eight from the USA, but the majority from Europe, including the largest ever turn-out from France.

Source: RORC