The Rolex Fastnet Race – A guide for entrants

Purpose and Scope of this guide

Welcome to the new Rolex Fastnet Race guide. This guide is intended to help you make your entry into the Rolex Fastnet Race as easy as possible. The guide is a dynamic document which will be updated frequently to cover the questions we are being asked from competitors. If you are a Fastnet Veteran and have tips for first-time entrants, please let us know - we would love to share your experience through this guide.

You will find that not all of the Frequently Asked Questions are answered yet (grey and not underlined). We will endeavour to update this document regularly. If your question has not been answered in here, please Email your question to the Race Team at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it (Please put the Sail Number and Boat Name in the subject field)

Experience

The Rolex Fastnet Race is not a race for novices. You may encounter very severe weather, large confused seas and strong winds. Previous experience of offshore racing is essential.

The RORC welcomes first time competitors to this race, however proper preparation, planning and training is essential. The RORC offers a series of races before the start of the Rolex Fastnet Race. The schedule consists of nine offshore weekend races, typically of 100 - 150 miles. Six start in the Solent and race in the English Channel. There are two races in the North Sea with starts from Harwich and Burnham. There is also a race in the Irish Sea; the Lyver Trophy race starts in Holyhead and finishes in Howth. These races can offer the opportunity to gain experience of RORC races and provide qualification miles for the Rolex Fastnet Race. See the Notice of Race for details of these races.

In addition, the RORC offers a variety of lectures in the social programme that will help you to adequately prepare for offshore races. Check the event calendar on the RORC Website.

Experience for entrants considering racing Two-Handed

If you are considering competing in the Rolex Fastnet Race two-handed you will have to satisfy the Committee that you have suitable and adequate experience and that the boat is properly organised for two-handed sailing. Naturally, all other Experience/Qualification requirements set out in the Notice of Race apply in addition to this. Seasoned RORC two-handed competitors who race regularly with the RORC need not apply to race in the Two-Handed Class.

You can apply to race in the Two-Handed Class by Email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it (Please put the sail Number and Boat name in the subject field). An example can be found here:

RE: "Sail Number", "Boat Name", Skipper "Captain Pugwash" - Request for permission to compete in the RORC Two - Handed Class.

Dear RORC,
Please find below a resume and short offshore sailing CV for both of the crew which shows what we have done together two handed. (This need only include relevant experience, offshore passages and races. i.e. Sydney Hobart Race, JOG Dieppe Race etc.)
... Sailing CV
The boat is set up for two-handed sailing as follows...
Please let us know whether our experience is acceptable to start in the Two-Handed Class.
Regards
Captain Pugwash

Satisfying the Rolex Fastnet Experience Qualification Requirement

There are three ways to satisfy this requirement:

Method 1: 300 miles of RORC offshore racing

If the location of your boat allows reasonable access to RORC racing then this is the one for you.

Simply choose the races from the programme that most suit you. This is a great way to qualify because you will get far more out of doing a whole season rather than approaching the Rolex Fastnet Race as a stand alone event. You will meet your fellow competitors and have the opportunity to size up the competition. The races often also cover some of the Fastnet course and give you experience escaping the Solent as well as of Royal Yacht Squadron Starts.

You will also quickly become familiar with the layout of the Sailing Instructions, the Identity Gate, Start Sequence and the RORC procedures and paperwork. We recommend that competitors should plan for three qualification races in their campaigns because this allows for a retirement if you suffer serious gear failure or are becalmed for days and have to get back to work.

Note: There is no time limit to RORC Offshore races and therefore the race continues until all competitors have finished racing. Mileage is normally only counted for races that have been completed.

Method 2 and 3 are only applicable to yachts which are normally kept in a place without reasonable access to RORC racing.

Method 2: One RORC offshore race plus offshore racing or an non-stop passage, to be proposed and agreed by the RORC, making a total of 300 miles.

This qualification method is only available to entrants whose yacht is normally kept in a place without reasonable access to RORC racing. The qualification has to be proposed and agreed to by the RORC; an "Example Proposal" is shown below.

A race must be of at least 75 nautical miles duration and include at least one night at sea to qualify as offshore racing. We are happy to advise on whether a race or non-stop passage will meet our requirements for qualification.

Method 2 allows for a boat to choose to do something like the North Sea Race on the East Coast of England and, if it is not possible to follow that up with the Houghton Centenary Cup, then to apply to allow the Vuurschepen Race or the delivery from the Coast of Holland to Cowes to be included in the Experience Qualification.

Method 3: Other qualification similar to Method 2 above

This qualification method is only available to entrants whose yacht is normally kept in a place without reasonable access to RORC racing. The qualification has to be proposed and agreed to by the RORC, an "Example Proposal" is shown below.

Method 3 would be for example, an experienced offshore race crew (having competed in e.g. the Rolex Middle Sea Race, the Rolex Sydney Hobart Race or similar Offshore races within the last year) unable to get their normal race boat to the start of the race be able to charter a similar vessel and propose a familiarisation programme to include a passage agreed by the RORC.

Example Proposal (Methods 2 and 3)

Please complete and send the proposal via Email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it (Please put the Sail Number and Boat Name in the subject field).

RE: "Sail Number", "Boat Name", Skipper "Captain Cornish" Experience Qualification Proposal Rolex Fastnet Race 2011

I wish to compete in the Rolex Fastnet Race but because my yacht is kept at ... I am unable to satisfy the experience qualification requirement by competing in RORC races.

I would be most grateful if the RORC would consider the proposal to satisfy the requirement detailed below:

I and at least 50% of my crew propose to do the following races on my First 40.7 GBR1234L Boatname which will be completed before the start of the Fastnet Race:-

Plymouth - Guernsey	165 nm	6th June 2011
Guernsey - Plymouth	145 nm	9th June 2011
Plymouth - Wolf Rock	130 nm	10th July 2011

Total : 440 nautical miles
The races are organised by the Plymouth Yacht Club.

Before the start of the Rolex Fastnet race I will confirm to the RORC in writing that the above proposal has been completed in full. I am aware that races have to be completed to count towards the qualification mileage. In the event of any changes to the above proposal I will promptly inform the RORC in writing.

Regards,
Captain Cornish

On completion of an accepted proposal

Please complete and send the confirmation via Email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it (Please put the Sail Number and Boat Name in the subject field).

RE: "Sail Number", "Boat Name", Skipper "Captain Cornish" Experience Qualification Confirmation Rolex Fastnet Race 2011

I, the Person in Charge for the Rolex Fastnet Race, and at least 50% of my Rolex Fastnet Race crew have now completed the experience qualification that was agreed by the RORC on dd/mm/yyyy.

Regards,
Captain Cornish

When qualifying for the race via methods 2 or 3 the RORC may request a short offshore sailing CV for each of the proposed Fastnet Race crew. This need only include relevant experience, offshore passages and races i.e. Sydney Hobart Race, JOG Dieppe Race etc.

When things don't go as planned

When plans to qualify as above cannot be completed (e.g. a race becalmed) or in exceptional circumstances, alternative proposals must be made to RORC as soon as possible. We are happy to discuss individual qualification and work towards an acceptable proposal.