This year’s 46th edition of the Rolex Fastnet Race is underway. The record 356 yacht fleet started the famous 603-nautical mile offshore race to Plymouth via Ireland’s Fastnet rock yesterday, on Sunday, August 16, 2015.
100ft superyacht Comanche under sail – Photo by Rolex Daniel Forster
First to leave at midday, and opening proceedings at this year’s race, were the multihulls. They were followed by a series of sizeable starting groups, the largest including almost 90 yachts, and culminating with the fastest, as well as largest monohulls, last to leave at 13:40 BST.
It was an amazing spectacle, with the final start including the leading contenders for monohull line honours – Jim Clark’s 100ft superyacht Comanche (USA), fellow American George David’s sailing yacht Rambler 88 (USA) and Mike Slade’s 100ft charter yacht Leopard (GBR).
88ft sailing yacht Rambler 88 at full speed – Photo by Rolex Daniel Forster
Rambler yacht appeared to have made a textbook start stealing a lead over her rivals. It was short lived as sailing yacht Comanche’s superior waterline length and sailpower was used to good effect to secure a solid advantage by the time line honour’s favourite exited the Solent just before 15:00 BST.
