Image: Arto Linnervuo’s Infiniti 52 Tulikettu has a programme principally focussing on the world’s 600 mile offshore races © Rick Tomlinson/Infiniti Yachts
50th Edition - Start: Saturday 22nd July 2023 - Cowes-Fastnet Rock-Cherbourg-en-Cotentin
James Boyd reviews some of the latest hardware built or acquired especially for this year's historic race
Winning the world’s largest offshore yacht race comes with huge prestige. Names on the Fastnet Challenge Cup, presented to the overall corrected time winner of the Rolex Fastnet Race since its first edition in 1925, include Jolie Brise, Dorade, Myth of Malham, Carina II, Pen Duick III, Condor, Nicorette, Morning Glory, Nokia, Rán 2, and more recently from France; Night and Day, Courrier Du Leon and Lann Ael 2, plus the American VO70 Wizard and the defending British champion, Sunrise. Today the Fastnet Challenge Cup is presented to the corrected time winner in IRC Overall.
However, this July’s Rolex Fastnet Race will be the 50th edition of the Royal Ocean Racing Club’s premier event. For this special historic event, several are building or acquiring yachts with the specific aim of getting their name on the trophy.