Image: The Fastnet Rock © Daniel Forster/ROLEX
Registration begins at 1000 UTC on Tuesday 12th January 2021.
A GUIDE FOR ENTRANTS - WITH PREVIOUS FASTNET EXPERIENCE
For those who are seasoned Rolex Fastnet Race Competitors, organiserx have assembled a list of the main changes for the 2021 edition of the race. We assume that you are checking this with the intention of competing in the same boat and with a similar crew as in 2019 - so we are skipping through all the boat and crew eligibility here. But whether a "Veteran" of the race or not, you are - of course - still subject to all the criteria. Have a look at the "Complete Guide" if in doubt.
IMPORTANT DATES AND ENTRY INFORMATION
Event Date (2021) Competitor Info
Registration Opens Tue 12 Jan10:00 hrs UTC From this date you can log into your SailGate account and add your boat to the Registration List for the Rolex Fastnet Race 2021. After Sunday 17th Jan, all registered boats will be sorted and places offered on a first come, first served basis, with RORC members receiving priority over non-members. Boats registering after this date will allocated places on a first come, first served basis regardless of membership.
50% fee Within 10 days of entry Once you have been allocated a place in the race, the RORC Race Team will inform you and officially enter the boat. From that date of entry, 50% of the entry fee must be paid within 10 days. This part of the entry fee is non-refundable.
Proposal As soon as possible after entry You must email the Race Team detailing your plan to meet the crew mileage qualification requirement.
Qualification As per proposal You must email the Race Team once your crew have completed the mileage qualification as per your proposal.
Closing Date Wed 07 July (TBC) Make sure you have paid the full Race Entry Fee by the Closing Date so as not to incur the Late Payment Charge. By this date send in your completed OSR Checklist, completed to Category 2.
Rating Deadline Thu 29 July Your yacht must hold a valid rating/class certificate by this deadline. After this date any changes are in exceptional circumstances only and at the discretion of the RORC.
Race Check-in Mon 29 July - Sat 07 Aug At the RORC Office, The Disrespect, Cowes, Isle of Wight. Sailing Instructions are available only after completing registration.
Skippers Briefing Sat 07 Aug, 1600 This will be held on The Parade, Cowes.
Start Sun 08 Aug Start times and starting groups will be detailed in the Sailing Instructions.
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT CHANGES FOR 2021
Closing Date
In addition to settling the balance of the entry fee, by Thursday 8th July 2021 we also require that you hand in to the Race Office, by email, post or otherwise, your OSR Checklist completed to Category 2. If you have already filled out an OSR Checklist to Category 3 (as you would have had to for most of the preceeding RORC Offshore Races) then please ensure that by this date you have sent us the additional information to meet Category 2.
Rating Deadline
All yachts must hold a valid rating/class certificate by end of day, Thursday 29th July 2021. Only non IRC yachts must submit a copy of their class certificate to the RORC (Certificates are still required to be carried aboard the boat). After the deadline any rating changes are in expectional circumstances only and at the discretion of the RORC.
SailGate
All entries for the Rolex Fastnet Race must be entered via SailGate and all crew lists must be added, ensuring invites have been accepted. In exceptional circumstances and at the RORC's discretion, entries or crew lists may be accepted by alternative means.
Boat and crew safety equipment - possible amendments
There may be further amendments to World Sailing Offshore Special Regulations for 2021 which will be published by World Sailing in due course and made available on the RORC website; this document will then be updated.
Entry Fees 2021
Entry Fees 2021 - shown in £ Sterling
RORC members are entitled to a discount of 30% of the entry fee, up to the equivalent value of a Full UK Ordinary subscription (2021 - £355). This fee discount structure is applied to all RORC Offshore races so, as a RORC member doing your qualifying mileage, you can expect to have saved more than your subscription rate through fee discounts over the course of the season!
SUMMARY OF OTHER REQUIREMENTS
Below is a list of other requirements that have not changed since 2019 but will have to be considered:
Crew Qualification
The basic requirements of the crew to qualify have not changed from 2019. A brief description follows; further information can be found in the Complete Guide:
Minimum experience requirement of 300 miles of offshore racing completed by 50% of the crew (but not less than 2), including the Person in Charge, and within 12 months preceeding the start of the Rolex Fastnet Race
At least 30% of the boat's crew (but not less than 2), including the Person in Charge, must have completed training to Section 6 of the World Sailing Offshore Special Regulations within 5 years of the start of the race
Minimum of 1 member of the boat's crew must hold a in-date First Aid Certificate completed within the last five years. Please note that some first aid certificates only have a validity of three years.
Boat Suitablity
The basic requirements of the boat's suitability have not changed from 2019. A brief description follows and further information can be found in the Complete Guide:
Monohull Multihull
Speed
Must have an IRC Rating of 0.850 or greater
For non-IRC rated boats alternative criteria may be used, e.g. IMOCA, Class40
Visit www.ircrating.org for more information on IRC Rating
Must have a MOCRA Rating of 1.100 or greater
Visit www.mocra-sailing.org.uk for more information on MOCRA Rating
Length
Minimum length: determined by minimum speed rating - see above
Minimum length is 9.15m (30ft) LH (LOA)*
Maximum length: 21.5m (70ft) LH (LOA)*
* The Committee may make an exception to the minimum or maximum lengths on application.
Hull Construction See Complete Guide if in doubt
Stability
STIX minimum 32
AVS minimum 130-0.002*m (m is the boat's minimum sailing weight)
SSS minimum 28 (if STIX/AVS not present and not required - boats with series date before 1995)
Boats in accepted One-Design Classes and holding valid Rating/Class certificates do not require STIX or SSS.
Boat Equipment
In accordance with Category 2 of the World Sailing Special Regulations including RORC Prescriptions