Rolex Fastnet Race

Founded in 1925, the Rolex Fastnet Race is a biennial offshore yacht race organised by the Royal Ocean Racing Club with the assistance of the Royal Yacht Squadron in Cowes and the city of Cherbourg-en-Cotentin in France.

The race is named after the Fastnet Rock, which the race course rounds. The Rolex Fastnet Race is considered one of the world’s toughest and tactically challenging offshore races. Since its inception, the Fastnet Race has proven highly influential in the growth of offshore racing, and remains closely linked to advances in yacht design, sailing technique and safety equipment.

The Rolex Fastnet Race has been sponsored by the Swiss watch manufacturing company Rolex since 2001.

The race’s main focus is on monohull handicap racing which presently is conducted under the IRC Rating Rule, which is administered jointly by the RORC Rating Office in Lymington, UK and UNCL, YCF Race Pole in Paris, France. The overall winner after IRC time correction is awarded the Fastnet Challenge Cup. The race also attracts multihulls and provides one design class starts for classes such as IMOCA and Class40.