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Fastest Fastnet

Maxi Banque Populaire V crew - Rolex Fastnet race  Copyright : Team Banque Populaire / BFBP

If seriously fast boats and 600-plus mile racecourses are your thing, Fastnet 2011 was your race. For starters, the maxi-trimaran Banque Populaire, skippered by Loick Peyron and crewed by some of the world's best multi-hull sailors, broke the old multi-hull course record, making 1 day, 8 hours and 48 minutes the new standard. Ironically, Peyron bested his own record, which he set in 1999 aboard Fujicolor. It will certainly be interesting to see how long Banque Populaire's new record stands, and if it will fall at Peyron's hands...again.

George David's Rambler 100 capsizes in the Celtic Sea - Rolex Fastnet Race 2011  © Rolex/Carlo Borlenghi

Meanwhile, terrible luck struck George David's extremely well-sailed Rambler 100 (ex. Speedboat; the Juan K-designed 100-foot super maxi) just after she rounded Fastnet Rock when her keel fin fractured and her bulb fell off, immediately triggering a full capsize and turtle. 'Soon after rounding the Fastnet Rock, the wind went southwest, right on the nose,' said Rambler 100 project manager Mick Harvey. 'We were beating into big seas, launching Rambler off the top of full size waves. I was down below with navigator Peter Isler when we heard the sickening sound of the keel breaking off. It was instantaneous; there was no time to react. The boat turned turtle, just like a dinghy capsizing. Isler issued a Mayday and we got out of there as quickly as we could.'

All 21 sailors were safely rescued, but David and four other crewmembers were washed away from the upturned hull; they joined arms and treaded water for several hours until they were rescued. Wendy Touton, David's partner, had to be airlifted to the hospital to be treated for hypothermia. Thankfully, everyone is alright. Be sure to check the post-capsize interviews with David and veteran bowman Jerry Kirby, inside.

It should be noted that while Rambler 100 was a favorite to set a new monohull course record, this honor instead went to Ian Walker and his Abu Dhabi Racing crew on their new, Farr-designed Volvo Open 70, Azzam. Interestingly, Azzam smoked ICAP Leopard, the Farr-designed 100-footer that set the previous monohull record of 1 day 20hrs 18 minutes, across the line. Walker and company managed to shave 1 hour 39 minutes off of Leopard's 2007 run.

Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing, skippered by Ian Walker from the UK, at the finish of the Rolex Fastnet Race.  Ian Roman/Volvo Ocean Race

'It was a fast, tough race and to cross the line with the record and the honors is a big relief and shows that we are really competitive,' said Walker. 'It's a great boost for the team, both the shore and race crews, to help them feel that they are part of a winning outfit. Winning can become a habit and it is certainly a habit we want to get into.' All three of the VO70s entered in the race Azzam, Groupama and Team Sanya [ex. Telefonica Blue]) did exceptionally well, adding much anticipation to the next Volvo Ocean Race, which starts in Alicante, Spain, in late October.

Check out the full Fastnet reports and multi-media galleries, inside.

May the four winds blow you safely home,

David Schmidt, Sail-World USA Editor

America's Cup sailors recount Rambler capsize in Rolex Fastnet Race Richard Gladwell, Sail-World, Five times round the world racer, and America's Cup sailor Erle Williams (NZL), has described the moment when the supemaxi Rambler 100, capsized soon after rounding Fastnet Rock, yesterday. A professional yachtsman, Williams is one of New Zealand's top sailors, with a long sailing career encompassing five Round the World races, and several America's Cup campaigns. Other top America's Cup sailor... [more] Share this story

Knickerbocker Cup at Western Long Island Sound preview Andrea Watson, The Knickerbocker Cup is a qualifier for the World Match Racing Tour, with the winner gaining an automatic entry to the Argo Gold Cup, one of the most prestigious match racing events on the Tour. Twelve teams from around the world have been invited to compete in this year's event. Manhasset Bay, in western Long Island Sound, will be filled with match racing from mid-morning to late afternoon.... [more] Share this story

Clipper Round the World Yacht Race - Teams cross Scoring Gate Zoe Williamson, Clipper Round the World Yacht Race - 'It has been a very action packed and fun filled 24 hours!' exclaims Singapore's skipper Ben Bowley this morning. 'After yesterday morning's position report it was clear that with some careful trimming it would be possible to make it to the Scoring Gate at the very least in third place.... [more] Share this story

Rolex Fastnet Race - Class40's head uphill for the final miles Oliver Dewar, Rolex Fastnet Race - After 72 hours of racing, the Class40 fleet face beating to the finish for the final 70 miles following a predominantly offwind leg from Fastnet Rock to the Scilly Isles. With less than 200 miles of the 2011 Rolex Fastnet Course remaining, the leading Class40 pack in the 17-boat fleet compressed even further with the lead constantly changing as the group lined-up in the Celti... [more] Share this story

Ronstan A-Class Catamaran World Championships - Australians lead Thomas Capitani, Ronstan A-Cat Worlds first race day was sunny, with a light breeze from west; shortly before the start, however, the wind died down and Principal Race Officer Andreas Kuchler wisely chose to set the postponement pennant. After a brief pause, the wind came back; this time from the south, however.... [more] Share this story

Record numbers at Techno 293 Nationals and RS:X East Coast Champs Nevin Sayre, Eight races in the Techno Class and nine in RS:X were completed. The Techno 293 class continues to grow in North America with 35 sailors in the Gold and Silver Fleets.... [more] Share this story

WMRT Tour Card holders set to compete in Argo Group Gold Cup Talbot Wilson, The Argo Group Gold Cup will welcome all nine of the World Match Racing Tour Card Holders into the competition which is set to take place from October 4-9 at the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club, though they may not all race each other in the event.... [more] Share this story

US Sailing Development Team expansion Dana Paxton, U.S. Sailing has decided to make expansions in order to reflect the advancement of Olympic class sailing in the United States and to meet the increased demand from talented sailors to join the US Sailing Development Team (USSDT). US Sailing's Olympic Sailing Committee (OSC) has announced a new structure for the 2012 USSDT.... [more] Share this story

Rolex Fastnet Race - Ran across finish line Trish Jenkins, Niklas Zennström's Ran crossed the line off Plymouth at 12:53:44 BST, in an elapsed time of 2 days 3 minutes, and 44 seconds. Rán benefitted from the retirements yesterday of 80-foot Beau Geste (HKG) and 68-foot Alegre (GBR). According to Gavin Brady, Beau Geste was forced to pull out when some cracking developed in her deck and with conditions set to build around the Fastnet Rock and the onset of... [more] Share this story

Rolex Fastnet Race - Aiming for a second victory KPMS, the Rolex Fastnet Race, the morning time witnessed the arrival of the 100 foot supermaxi ICAP Leopard (GBR) take place; after which the first of the Mini Maxis made their arrival in Plymouth during the afternoon in the form of 2009 Rolex Fastnet Race winner, Rán (GBR).... [more] Share this story

Rolex Fastnet Race: Rambler capsize videos and interviews Sail-World, Yesterday the supermaxi, Rambler 100, the fastest supermaxi in the world, and widely expected to take the monohull record for the Fastnet race, capsized. Her keel fell off soon after rounding Fastnet Rock. Although five of her crew became separated from the yacht, all 21 were rescued. Here are the latest videos of the Rambler capsize and comment... [more] Share this story

Clipper Round the World Race - Weather forecast suggests west is best Zoe Williamson, Clipper Round the World Yacht Race - This morning Gold Coast Australia has emerged from Stealth Mode to reveal that the team has chosen a more westerly route towards the Scoring Gate – whether they make a run at the gate or chose to avoid it altogether, as De Lage Landen has opted to do, only time will tell.... [more] Share this story

Volvo 70 takes Rolex Fastnet Race monohull record KPMS, While the multihull record fell last night to Maxi Banque Populaire (FRA), so earlier this morning the monohull record for the Rolex Fastnet Race was also demolished. Surprisingly the new record went to the Volvo Open 70 Abu Dhabi (UAE), skippered by double Olympic silver medallist, Ian Walker.... [more] Share this story

Rolex Fastnet Race - Roaring Forty 2 leads Class40 fleet Oliver Dewar, Rolex Fastnet Race - Over Monday night, the 17 remaining Class40's in the 2011 Rolex Fastnet Race fleet crossed the Celtic Sea with reports of 25 knot windspeeds and gusts up to 30 knots with a challenging sea state. By the halfway point of the 150 mile leg from Land's End to Fastnet Rock at 22:30 BST, the two BT Boats Kiwi 40FC's were still holding the lead... [more] Share this story

Rolex Fastnet Race - Rambler 100 update Trish Jenkins, Rolex Fastnet Race - At midnight, Monday 15 August, Eddie Warden Owen, Chief Executive of the Royal Ocean Racing Club received a call from Mick Harvey, Project Manager of George David's Rambler 100 (USA). Harvey spoke about the harrowing incident when the 100' Maxi Rambler 100 capsized in the Celtic Sea during the Rolex Fastnet Race... [more] Share this story

Audi MedCup Circuit heads to Murcia Sabina Mollart-Rogerson, Audi MedCup Region of Murcia Trophy - For the two Audi MedCup Circuit series fleets the home straight may not quite be looming into sight yet, but the expectation of September's grand finale in Barcelona is growing by the day. On each of the three previous visits to the friendly, passionate city in the south east of Spain, the racing conditions have developed a whole range of challenges.... [more] Share this story

Rolex Fastnet race: Azzam takes Volvo Open 70 honours Richard Gladwell, Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing's Azzam won the three-way battle of Volvo Open 70s in the Rolex Fastnet Race on Day 3 on Tuesday, finishing four minutes ahead of Groupama 4. Team Sanya were still on the course at 0730 GMT. Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing, skippered by Ian Walker, finished first in a time of one day 18 hours 39 minutes and 0 seconds. That was well inside the monohull record for the race.... [more] Share this story

Rambler 100 drops keel and bulb in Rolex Fastnet Race - more pictures Guy Nowell, Sail-World Asia, Photo of the upturned Rambler 100, distinctly missing her (carbon?) keel, and bulb... [more] Share this story

Images of Rolex Fastnet: Big boats around The Rock Daniel Forster and Carlo Borlenghi, Top international photographers, Daniel Forster and Carlo Borglenghi, worked double shifts to capture the supermaxis and Volvo racers rounding Fastnet Rock, and also the giant multihull Banque Populaire as she finished to take the race record.... [more] Share this story

South Florida Man Nearly Achieves Bimini Challenge Goal John Bell, Bill Boes from Stuart, Florida would have completed a record-setting journey to pedal boat from Bimini across the Florida Straits to South Florida. Companions in a sailboat following Boes and his Stella Mae, a 12-foot pedal boat, decided to bring the 61-year-old aboard, thus ending the world record attempt.... [more] Share this story

18ft Skiff International Regatta at St. Francis YC Rich Roberts, The 18ft Skiff International Regatta is being hosted by the St. Francis Yacht Club and Michael Coxon, an Australian, has a bit of advice for the world-class sailors who will soon be testing the waters of San Francisco Bay in the buildup to the 34th America's Cup in 2013: respect.... [more] Share this story

Rambler 100 capsized in Fastnet - keel lost + Video www.sail-world.com, The yacht Rambler 100 has capsized between the Fastnet Rock and the Pantaenius Buoy. The Irish Coastguard services are coordinating the rescue. The Baltimore RNLI lifeboat is on the scene. Two Sikorsky helicopters have been scrambled and an Irish Naval vessel is en route to the scene of the accident... [more] Share this story

Chicago Grade 2 Invitational Regatta - Sixth place tie for Maclaren Anna Tunnicliffe, The Chicago Grade 2 Invitational Regatta has resulted in a much better day for Team Maclaren as they sailed just off Navy Pier in downtown Chicago. The wind was up, and the team finished the day's racing 2-1, with some exciting races in 18-25+kts.... [more] Share this story

Rolex Fastnet Race - Blistering first 24 hours for the Class40's Oliver Dewar, Rolex Fastnet Race - At 11:20 local time on Sunday, 19 fully-crewed Class40's crossed the startline of the 600-mile race. After 24 hours of racing, the familiar Class40-close combat and drama is evident. With a total of 314 yachts starting the race, the fully-crewed Class40's had the third start of the day, following the giant multihulls and the IMOCA Open 60's... [more] Share this story

Rolex Fastnet Race – Gryphon Solo 2 retires Joe Harris, Rolex Fastnet Race update from Gryphon Solo 2's skipper Joe Harris: I am sorry to report that we have elected to retire from the 2011 Rolex Fastnet due to sail damage that has rendered us uncompetitive. We ripped our Solent jib - our main workhorse headsail, as we exited the Solent near The Needles after the start.... [more] Share this story

More images from Rolex Fastnet Race: Volvo Ocean Racers - Day 2 Volvo Ocean Race Media, More images sent from onboard the three Volvo Ocean Race entrants by the media crew members onboard Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing, Groupama Sailing Team and Team Sanya in the Rolex Fastnet Race.... [more] Share this story

Rolex Fastnet Race images by Carlo Borlenghi Carlo Borlenghi, Rolex Fastnet Race images from photographer Carlo Borlenghi.... [more] Share this story

Images from Rolex Fastnet Race: Volvo Ocean Racers - Day 2 Volvo Ocean Race Media, Images sent from onboard the three Volvo Ocean Race entrants by the media crew members onboard Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing, Groupama Sailing Team and Team Sanya in the Rolex Fastnet Race.... [more] Share this story

Laser Masters Worlds final day images by Erik Simonson Erik Simonson images, Erik Simonson took these images from the last day of racing at the Laser Masters Worlds 2011 sailed on San Francisco Bay.... [more] Share this story

Chicago Grade 2 Invitational win to Bill Hardesty + Video CMRC, The third and final day of racing was filled with upsets, breakdowns and collisions. Winds picked up to 30-40 knots in the middle of last night and tapered off just enough for racing today. The day began with the completion of the second Round Robin that had potential for a three-way tie for third between Nicolai Sehested (DEN), Hardesty and Canfield with one team not advancing into the Semis.... [more] Share this story

Images from Rolex Fastnet Start - Daniel Forster Daniel Forster, Top international sailing photographer, Daniel Forster, was on the water off Cowes, Isle of Wight for the start of the 2011 Rolex Fastnet Race, which attracted a record fleet of 328 boats.... [more] Share this story

America's Cup World Series: Full replay of Race Day 7 now available Richard Gladwell, Full replay coverage is now available of the seventh day of racing is now available on the YouTube America's Cup channel. Includes plenty of on board footage and audio including coverage from on board the race committee boat. Expletives have not been deleted.... [more] Share this story

Snipe Senior Worlds - Brazilians make their mark Jerelyn Biehl, At the Snipe Senior Worlds that finished Saturday in Rungsted, Denmark, the Brazilian sailors made their mark by securing all three podium places. In a great show of sailing and sportsmanship, eventual winner Alexandre Tinoco and Gabriel Borges did not sail the last race and cheered on their fellow sailors and countrymen on the sidelines... [more] Share this story

Fisher's View: Cascais - The finale – devil take the hindmost Bob Fisher, And so to the so-called Super Sunday . . and the opportunity for Jimmy Spithill to demonstrate to the boss, Larry Ellison, how it should be done. Larry claimed the sixth man spot and Jimmy appeared to be ready to present the dainty dish to set before the king with a classic, well-timed run into the start... [more] Share this story

Ronstan A-Class Catamaran World Championship get underway Thomas Capitani, The Ronstan A-Class Catamaran World Championship taking place in Aarhus, Denmark is just getting underway; Saturday and Sunday will witness the measurement of the one-hundred cats and first practices will take place in advance of the five days of World Championship races, with the finals being raced on Friday 19th August.... [more] Share this story

Rolex Fastnet race gets off to a classic start - but one dismasting Sail-World, The record-sized Rolex Fastnet Race fleet set sail from Cowes in classic conditions – a beat westward up the Solent in a building west-southwesterly and sunshine, but with an ominous looking cloud line over the mainland. In the end there were 314 starters, the largest fleet ever to start the Rolex Fastnet Race following the previous record of 303 in 1979.... [more] Share this story

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