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#fastnet : South, veering northwest later, 5 to 7. Occasional rain then fair. Good, occasionally poor. ABOUT 4 hours AGOPampusclub
Fast-tracked by The Fastnet Race: In August 2011 I was offered a heaven-sent opportunity to show some of the pho... http://t.co/z4VCv2NS ABOUT 9 hours AGOShippingAreas
#fastnet : Southerly or southeasterly 4 or 5 increasing 5 to 7. Occasional rain. Moderate or good. ABOUT 12 hours AGOShippingAreas
#fastnet : Southerly or southeasterly 4 or 5 increasing 5 to 7. Occasional rain. Moderate or good. ABOUT 16 hours AGOEamoZ
#Fastnet service - No sense in ending route | Irish Examiner http://t.co/5fP2Ll3t #Munster , write to your MEPS in #Europe , get some response ABOUT 19 hours AGOShippingAreas
#fastnet : Southerly or southwesterly 4 or 5, increasing 6 or 7 at times. Occasional rain or sleet. Moderate or good. ABOUT 23 hours AGOwallyhenry
Watched the documentary last night about the Rambler 100 capsize and rescue during the Fastnet race. So glad I didn't lose any friends that. ABOUT 1 day AGOShippingAreas
#fastnet : Variable 3 or 4, becoming southerly or southwesterly 5 or 6. Occasional rain or sleet. Moderate or good. ABOUT 1 day AGOShippingAreas
#fastnet : Easterly, veering southerly, 4 or 5, occasionally 6 later. Rain later. Moderate or good. ABOUT 1 day AGORORCrating
These are what we need in the office in winter... http://t.co/bvTeiisP what do you think, @OffshoreOne ? ABOUT 1 day AGOC103Cork
C103 News@6: #Ireland is in the red, #Fastnet Line fails & #VHI increase premiums from March ABOUT 1 day AGOShippingAreas
#fastnet : Easterly, veering southerly, 4 or 5, occasionally 6 later. Rain later. Moderate or good. ABOUT 1 day AGOAdvances in Ocean Racing |
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Over the next couple of decades, yacht design for ocean racers moved swiftly and the introduction of multihulled catamarans and trimarans into ocean racing was making an impact. By the 1950's synthetic fibres were introduced and more sophisticated equipment began to bring about change. By the 1960's a more ruthless attitude to racing was emerging and the competitive spirit was sharpened by the introduction of such races as the Admiral's Cup and other major events. The Fastnet of 1965 saw the design of a radical new boat - Rabbit - a 34-foot sloop, which incorporated new ideas ensuring its victory in Class III.
The 1965 Admiral's Cup had also attracted teams from Sweden, Holland, France and the US. Irish and Australian teams also took part as relative newcomers. In 1967 the Australians took the Admiral's Cup trophy back to Sydney showing they were now in the same league as the Americans and Europeans. By the 1970's British ocean racing saw a great upsurge in popularity with heroes such as Francis Chichester, Robin Knox-Johnston and the then leader of the Conservative party, Edward Heath achieving 7th in class with Morning Cloud in the 1969 Fastnet and going on to lead the British Admiral's Cup team to victory in 1971. In 1973 the International Offshore Rule (IOR) was introduced as the sport began to grow and inter-ocean racing expanded. Sponsorships were also introduced and ocean racing was now a professional sport. Fastnet 19791979 will stick in everyone's memory as the year of the Fastnet tragedy when the biggest-ever fleet of 303 was caught in a vicious storm when led to 17 deaths. Following the disaster, New Special Regulations were introduced to improve watertight integrity, trisails and VHF radios became mandatory, qualifications for competing were introduced and the number of starters limited to 300. In 1983 restrictions on electronic aids were also lifted. Sources:The Royal Ocean Racing Club programme, archives |