Many thanks to Suzanne and Alan for this report from Sunday’s Fastnet race. Ed
First to leave and first to finish was the achievement of ‘Spindrift2’ in this year’s Rolex Fastnet Race.
We highlighted ‘Spindrift 2’ as a possible leader in our preview of the race and the French Trimaran owned by Dona Bertarelli lived up to expectations. On leaving Cowes ‘Spindrift2’ was close to the Island shore whilst ‘Musandam Oman Sail’ chose to hug the mainland shore.
Up against ‘Musandam Oman Sail’
Being the first boat of the 335 starters to leave Cowes on Sunday at noon ‘Spindrift2’ led the others in her division all along the south coast until Land’s End when ‘Musandam Oman Sail’, which we also predicted as a boat to watch, overtook.
Speaking to Dee Caffari before the race she told us that she was really looking forward to a fast race and was thrilled to be part of the Oman Sail Team which included Oman resident Raya Al Habsi.
Among the IMOCA 60s Vendee Globe winners Francois Gabart and Michel Desjoyeaux aboard the former’s, ’MACIF’, got their start line position to perfection. They continued to lead four hours into the race with the boats by this time approaching St Alban’s Head.
The competition
Other ‘big’ boats of note included ‘ICAP Leopard’, ‘Abu Dhabi’ ‘Edmond de Rothschild’ and ‘Team SCA’. Winner of the New York Challenge Cup at AAM Cowes Week,’ Bella Mente’ was in the same class as ‘Ran 2’ which was out to gain another Fastnet trophy as the Rolex Fastnet Race defending champion. At one stage in the race these 72ft Mini Maxis, American Hap Fauth’s ‘Bella Mente’ and Niklas Zennstrom’s ‘Ran 2’ were locked in their own private match race, hugging the coast at Swanage.
All the IRC classes set off from Cowes with the smallest first. Boats in IRC Four favoured the mainland shore. At 1600 they were in the middle of Poole Bay.
All change at Fastnet Rock
By the time the first of the biggest boats reached the Fastnet Rock positions had changed and ‘Spindrift2’ was the first to round the Rock followed by ‘Banque Populaire’ despite its late start. After rounding the Rock and picking up the wind ‘Spindrift 2’ made 35-36 knots of boat speed and had an ETA into Plymouth of 02:30 BST Tuesday morning.
However, once again the wind played a vital part in this race and with just two miles to go to the finish ‘Spindrift2’ halted and the crew could only watch as the navigation lights of ‘Banque Populaire’ came into view. Predicted ETA at the finish line in Plymouth of ‘Spindrift 2’ passed but now it was the turn of ‘Banque Populaire’ to lose the wind although at one time it looked like she might sail around ‘Spindrift 2’.
Six hours slower than 2011
At the last moment, ‘Spindrift 2’ found the lightest breeze and sailed across the finish line at 02.53.58 BST. Due to the light conditions this year, ‘Spindrift 2’s elapsed time of 38 hours 53 minutes and 58 seconds was more than six hours slower than the course record that this same boat managed in the last race in 2011 and it was another 22 minutes 41 seconds before ‘Banque Populaire ‘crossed the line.
As the big multi hulls were finishing backmarker, Gerard Jonker’s ‘Emily’, racing in IRC 4, had only just passed Plymouth, still outbound towards the Rock.
