Rolex Fastnet Campaign 2011

This is your chance to compete in over 1200 miles of offshore racing including three qualifying races and the Rolex Fastnet Race.   Places are open to all abilities from first timers to experienced yachtmasters although for beginners we do recommend that you take the RYA Competent Crew before the campaign begins.  As a sailing school entry we will train you during the training weekends and qualifying races enabling you to play a full part in crewing in the race.   

Fastnet Race

  

The biennial Rolex Fastnet Race is considered one of the world’s classic ocean races, the 608-mile course a test for skippers and crews with its tricky tidal currents and changeable weather conditions. The race, organised by the Royal Ocean Racing Club, with the Royal Yacht Squadron and the Royal Western Yacht Club, Plymouth will start at 10.00am on Sunday, 14th August, off Cowes, Isle of Wight.   

The Royal Ocean Racing Club’s classic event will attract in the region of 250 yachts in 2011. The course will take the large fleet South west down the Solent, past the Needles and out into the English Channel. The headlands along the South Coast of England – Anvil Point, Portland Bill, Start Point, The Lizard, Lands End – must each be weathered on the way to open ocean and the leg North West to the Fastnet Rock with it’s mythical lighthouse. The return leg to Plymouth, via Bishop Rock Lighthouse on the South side of the Scilly Isles, is just as demanding, as fatigue combined with the fine tuning of race tactics to defeat the competition over the finishing line add to the drama.     

Offshore Racing

Like no other race the Rolex Fastnet Race attracts every type of sailor and boat from just about every sailing country in the world. Sailing schools, corporate institutions, family owned and crewed cruiser-racers, dedicated amateurs, club sailors along with the hardened champions from the Grand Prix circuits, are all attracted to compete in the best known offshore race in the world. All come to enjoy the challenge of one of the trickiest and most demanding sporting events that an individual or a team can aspire to today.    

  

Training and qualifying races:

Training Weekend 1	March 2011
Training Weekend 2	April 2011
De Guingand Bowl Race
Morgan Cup Race
Cowes – Dinard – St Malo
2011 Fastnet Race	August 14th
Sea Safety training and ISAF

Commodore Yachting are entering two yachts in the race, they are as follows:

Adelaide Star	10 berth Bavaria 44	£2450.00 pp
Canberra Star	8 berth Bavaria 38	£2450.00 pp

What’s included:

• 2 practical training weekends
• 1 shorebased training weekend – Sea Safety and ISAF
• 3 qualifying races
• 2011 Fastnet Race
• Accommodation on board the yacht including meals, drinks and snacks
• Race entry fees
• All yacht expenses (berthing, fuel, professional yacht skipper)
• Free hire of wet weather gear if required
• Commodore Yachting Team Fastnet 2011 shirt

 

  

Experience Qualification for Fastnet

The skipper and at least half the crew must have competed in the yacht in which they will race the Fastnet, in the 12 months preceding the Fastnet start:    

1. 300 miles of RORC offshore racing, or if the yacht is normally kept in a place without reasonable access to RORC racing:
2. One RORC offshore race plus offshore racing or a nonstop passage making a total of at least 300 miles, or
3. Other qualifications similar to (2) above to be proposed to and agreed by RORC by Friday 6th July 2011.

Notes:    

1. 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.
2. A service yacht may qualify as above or submit written authority from her service establishment.
3. The acceptance by RORC of any experience qualification does not warrant suitability for the Fastnet race.

Fastnet Training Qualification

It is the skipper’s responsibility to ensure that at least two people on each yacht have a certificate/letter of attendance, from a recognised establishment, on completion of the following:    

1. A First Aid Course, and,
2. Training/instruction in the use of liferafts.

The above training must have taken place after January 2008.