The most numerous class in the Rolex Fastnet Race also has a wider rating band than any other, with the exception of the much smaller number of very large yachts in the IRC Zero and Super Zero classes.
It also represents a disproportionate number of older yachts, family sailors and adventurers, many of them competing in the race for the first time. This afternoon, half of them were still at sea, with some of the back markers not expected to finish until Saturday.
Patrick Moriarty’s young team on the immaculately prepared classic Swan 43 Astrid finished their first ever Rolex Fastnet Race this morning. On rounding the Rock they were a creditable 34th in this 94-strong fleet. They also notched up an impressive class win and overall podium result in this year’s North Sea Race.
Astrid, a classic Swan 43 is being raced by Patrick Moriarty in IRC Four © Paul Wyeth/RORC
“The Fastnet was brilliant for us – we had a lovely sail, though it was definitely more challenging than some of the qualifying races, because it’s so much longer,” says Moriarty. “It was crucial for me to manage people's energy levels – it’s not like a 24-hour race, where you can push on through and then rest up at the end.
“Luckily we've had no damage at all, so the boat’s got through it and all the crew got through it,” he adds. “It was just a bit frustrating when we got past the Rock and unfortunately watching all the JPK 1010s just disappear downwind.” Nevertheless his team pushed hard on the downwind return legs, holding the A4 spinnaker in gusts of up to 30 knots and surfing at speeds up to 13.9 knots.
“It was such an amazing experience, especially being able to see the Fastnet Rock – we had an amazing view of it,” adds watch leader Purdy Light. “The massive downward leg, pushing the boat hard, was a lot of fun. You would come up on watch with everyone booming with laughter about something or other, so it was a really nice atmosphere.
“After finishing we realised that we had picked off a couple of extremely good teams – that feels like a big achievement for our first Fastnet.”
The first three boats to finish this morning are expected to retain their respective podium places after IRC time correction and as more of the slower-rated boats finish tonight the final results in the class will become progressively more clear.
Alban Mesnil and Romain Gibon’s JPK 1010 Abracadabra 2 was first across the line, followed by sistership Ludovic Menahes’ Raphael, and Frank Lavenant’s JPK 960 Sur La Mer Contre Le Cancer Avec Le Centre Eugène Marquis Et Les Laboratoires Pierre Fabre.
