Many thanks to Suzanne and Alan for this sailing update. Ed
One on the boats we featured in our Rolex Fastnet Race previews was Jolie Brise as the boat had won the very first race in 1925, won on other occasions and was competing this year.
Although Jolie Brise did not secure a prize in this year’s race she rather stole the show at the prizegiving which was held in Plymouth. With the winning yachts in their various classes moored at Plymouth the crews were able to enjoy the prizegiving which was held on Mountbatten Green.
Jolie Brise arrived during prize-giving
With a backdrop of the Citadel and Plymouth Hoe those attending the prizegiving were treated to a piece of Fastnet history as, completely unrehearsed, proceedings coincided with the arrival of the gaff pilot cutter, Jolie Brise, the winner in 1925 and still the only boat to have won the race on three occasions.
Mike Greville, Commodore of the Royal Ocean Racing Club, congratulated competitors on their participation in the race. He noted not only this year’s record size fleet, but also the high number of international competitors and the tiny number of retirements – just ten since the race started in Cowes six days before. He also thanked the sponsors, in particular Rolex, who after 12 years of backing the biennial event, have since committed to support the race until 2021.
First ever doublehanded crew to win the Rolex Fastnet Race
Although the big multihulls had been the first to cross the line the winner of the race, on handicap, was the French father and son team of Pascal and Alexis Loison (Night and Day), the first ever doublehanded crew to win the Rolex Fastnet Race outright.
In addition to the top prizes of the Fastnet Challenge Cup and a Rolex Yachtmaster Chronometer, they also won trophies for being the top non-British yacht in IRC, the best corrected time for a yacht with a skipper aged 18-30, the winning navigator, the best two handed boats in IRC and winning IRC Three.
Cowes Week competitors
Several yachts which had sailed in AAM Cowes Week prior to the start of the Rolex Fastnet Race were also successful in gaining silverware and other prizes.
These included:
Yachts and Yachting Catamaran Trophy for the first Multihull home: Spindrift 2 (VPLP 140 trimaran) Dona Bertarelli and Yann Guichard
Croda Wave Trophy for the best MOCRA multihull Overall: Oman Air – Musandam (MOD 70) Sidney Gavignet
RORC IMOCA 60 Trophy for the first IMOCA 60 home: MACIF, Francois Gabart and Michel Desjoyeaux
Clarion Cup for the first British Yacht Home and Royal Thames Yacht Club Spirit Cup for the first Royal Thames yacht home: ICAP Leopard (Farr 100) Mike Slade
Jolie Brise Cup for the first Yacht Home in IRC One to Four: Tonnerre de Breskens (Ker 46), Piet Vroon
Erroll Bruce Cup for the first Yacht Home in IRC Zero: Bella Mente (JV 72) Hap Fauth
Ken Newman was awarded the Dennis Doyle Memorial Salver for the skipper who has taken part in the greatest number of Fastnet races (28).
Image: © Rolex
