2015 Rolex Fastnet Race gets underway in very light conditions

The race has started in very light conditions this year a strong fleet of race multihulls are competing including the MOD70's Oman Sail, Phaedo and Concise 10 in the Ultimes Spindrift2 and Prince de Bretagne Maxi 80.

http://www.sail-world.com/Record-fleet-for-46th-Rolex-Fastnet-Race/137522

The tracker is here:

http://yb.tl/fastnet2015

Rolex RORC Fastnet Race update, Multi's home in light and challenging conditions

From the following article on Sail-World submitted by Peta Stuart-Hunt

http://www.sail-world.com/Australia/Rolex-Fastnet-Race-2013---Morning-race-update/113176

The world's two fastest offshore racing trimarans had to endure the world's slowest finish in the early hours of this morning in the Rolex Fastnet Race.

Having jockeyed for the lead since leaving the Solent on Sunday, the Dona Bertarelli and Yann Guichard co-skippered Spindrift two was ahead past the Lizard in the early hours of this morning, only for the wind to switch off within two miles of the finish. Even the world's largest racing trimaran, with her 47m tall wingmast, was unable to find any wind when it counted.

As she parked, with Plymouth tantalisingly near, Armel le Cleac'h and the crew of the 31.5m trimaran Banque Populaire were able to ghost in. As the navigation lights on the French Vendée Globe hero's maxi-trimaran grew ever bigger, at one point closing to within half a mile, it looked like she might sail around Spindrift 2. However, at the last moment, the frontrunner found the lightest zephyr to ghost across the finish line at 02.53.58 BST.

read more here

Rolex RORC Fastnet Race underway, livestream video of start and tracker

The leading multis are about halfway to the Fastnet Rock the start was in light windward conditions.

The livestream which shows the start and lots of video of the big multis in action.

http://new.livestream.com/ngresults/events/2313633/videos/27000838

 The tracker on yellowbrick

http://fastnet.rorc.org/2013-fleet-tracking.html

video extract of the multihull start by Geoff Waller a bit of crosstalk on the audio at times.

 

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RORC Rolex Fastnet Race, how to watch the start

This year will see a solid multihull contingent contest the RORC Rolex Fastnet Race.  For details on how to watch the start and follow the progress of the competitors this webpage gives details:

http://fastnet.rorc.org/news-2013/race-updates-2013/how.html

The live stream

http://new.livestream.com/accounts/2978835/events/2313633

RORC Rolex Fastnet race update, Spindrift 2 ready to race

The maxi trimaran Spindrift2 (formerly Banque Populaire V) will be making it's racing debut for Spindrift Racing in the upcoming RORC Rolex Fastnet race. 

From the following article on the Spindrift Racing website:

http://www.spindrift-racing.com/2013/08/first-race-for-the-giant-trimaran-spindrift-2/

After a studious July, punctuated by two long, intensive training sessions, Spindrift 2, the largest racing trimaran in the world, will compete in the 45th edition of the classic, legendary and very British Rolex Fastnet Race. The colourful 608-mile course starts in Cowes, England’s sailing Mecca, passes along the coast of Cornwall and round the famous Irish rock called Fastnet, returning via the Isles of Scilly to the finish in Plymouth bay.

Competing in one of the greatest RORC races is a huge motivation for the two skippers and they have one eye on the record (1 day, 8 hours and 48 minutes) set by the same boat in the 2011 race. It is an ambitious benchmark and to beat it they will need to be faultless on board and make the best of the weather conditions available.

read more here