Star Class for Rolex Fastnet

Star Class for Rolex Fastnet

On the Isle of Wight, Cowes Week is in full swing, the high street is packed with people and in the Solent, a myriad of boats are racing in close to ideal conditions. Tomorrow the big boats enter the fray at the world's oldest sailing regatta and it will be some spectacle; a virtual bounty of the world’s finest boats crewed by the best sailors in the world and they are here primarily to compete in the Rolex Fastnet which starts next Sunday.

Probably the most experienced crew competing at this year’s Rolex Fastnet Race is on Niklas Zennström’s JV 72, RÁN. Virtually all of the crew have competed in the America’s Cup and all told, the world class line up on the impressive Mini-Maxi has competed in no less that 49 Fastnet races. British navigator, Steve Hayles is a world class yachtsman having competed in the America’s Cup and five major round the world races. This year, Steve will be competing in his ninth Fastnet; “The race is a must do for anyone who respects the traditions of yacht racing and when I look back through the history of the race and the yachts that have competed in it, it is something that fills me full of passion. The course is extremely tactical, it’s a real challenge, from start to finish. This year the competition will be very tough and we are expecting a tight battle to win this great race.”

The crews competing on the larger entries are a virtual ‘who’s who’ of grand prix yacht racing: This year’s winning Volvo Ocean Race skipper and four times Olympic Gold medallist, Torben Grael, is leading a stellar crew on STP 65, Luna Rossa, including Italian America’s Cup sailor, Vittorio Volante. From Hong Kong, Karl Kwok’s brand new 80 foot Mini-Maxi, Beau Geste, has Kiwi America’s Cup helmsman Gavin Brady racing, as well as Volvo Ocean Race winner, David Endean. From Spain, Pachi Rivero will be racing on board Swan 56, Clem, having just completed the Volvo Ocean Race. On Mike Slade’s 100ft Maxi ICAP Leopard there is a star studded crew including Volvo Ocean Race winners, Brad Jackson from New Zealand and Irishman, Justin Slattery.

From California, USA Roger Sturgeon’s STP 65, Rosebud, is competing in the Rolex Fastnet Race for the first time. Skipper Malcolm Park is a highly experienced yachtsman; his impressive CV includes 15 Transpac races.“In recent years Rosebud has won, the Transpac, Newport Bermuda Race and the Rolex Sydney Hobart and we would love to add the Rolex Fastnet race to that.” Commented Park. On board Rosebud are two Volvo Ocean Race veterans from South Africa; Mike Joubert and Johno Swain. This year’s race has a wealth of the latest hi-tech racing machines and a staggering number of high profile sailors from the Olympics, the America’s Cup and the Volvo Ocean Race.

The Rolex Fastnet Race 2009, is the biggest and most historic offshore race and whilst it has an impressive cast, perhaps one of the thousands of competitors who deserves a little limelight is Ken Newman. He celebrated his 80^th birthday last week and will be skipper on Swan 46, Marinero, this will be Ken’s 26^th race and he has already booked for 2011.