Constructed by McConaghy Boats and designed by Reichel Pugh, the 100-foot super maxi sailing yacht Esimit Europa 2 (formerly Alfa Romeo) arrived in Plymouth on Wednesday morning, securing Line Honours Victory in the 2013 Rolex Fastnet Race. Charter yacht ICAP Leopard 3, also built by McConaghy and designed by Farr, arrived 3rd.

ESIMIT EUROPA 2, SLO1001, Owner- Igor Simcic, Sailed by- Jochen Schumann, Design- RP 100, Class- Canting Keel - Photo Rolex - Kurt Arrigo

Whilst in IRC McConaghy boats are winning their divisions in class IRC Z (Pace, Reichel Pugh 52), IRC 1 (Magnum III, Ker 40), and IRC 1a (Magnum III, Ker 40)

The pan-European crew, skippered by Jochen Schümann, add Rolex Fastnet success to a glittering array of line honours victories including at the Giraglia Rolex Cup (2010, ’11, ’12) and Rolex Middle Sea Race (2010, ’11, ’12).

In the highly competitive class IRC 1a, McConaghy Ker 40s fill the top 4 positions in with Andrew Pearce’s Magnum III followed by Baraka GP, Aniene/Keronimo, and Hooligan VII with only minutes separated the 2nd 3rd and 4th placed yachts in this division, but Magnum III held a lead of over 2 hours over second placed Baraka GP.

McConaghy Boats have an enviable track record in this iconic biennial event, since the first Rolex Fastnet race was held in 2003:

2003: Line Honours: 1st Alfa Romeo, 2nd Zephyrus V, 3rd Nokia Enigma IRC: 1st Nokia Enigma, 2nd Alfa Romeo, 3rd Zephyrus V (all designed by Reichel Pugh)

2007: Line Honours: 1st – and new course record – ICAP Leopard 3 (Farr Yacht Design), 2nd Rambler (Reichel Pugh) IRC: Rambler, 2nd overall and 1st in class

2009: Line honours: 1st ICAP Leopard 3

2011: IRC: ICAP Leopard 3, 2nd overall and 1st in class, Keronimo (Ker 40) 1st in class