Please select your home edition
Edition
Rolly Tasker Sails 2023 LEADERBOARD

Rolex Fastnet Race: Cherbourg-en-Cotentin finish confirmed for the next two editions

by Louay Habib / RORC 10 Sep 2024 00:00 AEST
Cherbourg-en-Cotentin will continue to host the finish of the legendary Rolex Fastnet Race © Arthur Daniel / RORC

The Royal Ocean Racing Club is delighted to announce that for 2025 and 2027 the port town of Cherbourg-en-Cotentin will continue to host the finish of the famous biennial Rolex Fastnet Race.

The 2025 Rolex Fastnet Race will be held during the Club's centenary year when another record entry is expected.

The 51st edition of the Rolex Fastnet Race starts from the Royal Yacht Squadron line on Saturday 26th July, 2025, prior to the annual Cowes Week festivities.

From seven participants in its first edition in 1925, the 2023 Rolex Fastnet Race attracted a record 430 boats. For the next edition, the RORC is planning for an even larger international fleet. Entries for the 2025 Rolex Fastnet Race are expected to be even higher due to the 100th anniversary of the Royal Ocean Racing Club and the return of the Admiral's Cup.

Since 2021, the Rolex Fastnet Race finish has been in Cherbourg-en-Cotentin due to the port's outstanding facilities which can accommodate the world record fleet. The Rolex Fastnet Race has the support of the City, the Communauté d'Agglomération du Cotentin, and the Département de la Manche & Région Normandie. Cherbourg-en-Cotentin is one of France's great Channel ports, closely linked to naval history and transatlantic adventures, and the Cotentin coast is home to many prominent water sports events.

"Continuing to bring the Rolex Fastnet Race finish to Cherbourg retains the established attractions of the marine facilities, the town and surrounding Cotentin peninsula as part of the legendary offshore race," commented RORC Commodore Deb Fish. "The Race Village in Cherbourg will once again provide superb modern facilities for competitors and play host to thousands of race fans from all over the world."

"The Normandy Region is delighted to announce the arrival of the 2025 and 2027 editions of the Rolex Fastnet Race in Cherbourg-en-Cotentin. It's a beautiful showcase for Normandy, which is increasingly establishing itself each year as a region of sailing, open to the sea. We are particularly proud to support the organisation of this race, which brings together the biggest names in sailing and contributes to the promotion of this sector where the Region realises over 6 million Euros each year," commented Hervé Morin, President of Région Normandie.

"La Manche is a rich maritime area and knows how to host great events. It demonstrated it this year with the 80th anniversary of the Normandy landings and the passage of the Olympic Flame through the department. It is therefore with great enthusiasm that after a record 2023 edition we will once again welcome in 2025 and 2027, both at sea and on land, the legendary international sailing race of the Rolex Fastnet Race. Our common strategy was to make sailing a strong development core aim for our territory and we can confirm that we have succeeded in our strategy for the future," said Jean Morin, President of Département de la Manche.

"Welcoming the Rolex Fastnet Race for the next two editions places the Cotentin on the map of major offshore races in France. With our 220 kilometres of coastline, hosting this legendary sailing race is an opportunity to show our maritime strengths. Indeed, our nautical infrastructures make the Cotentin a prime playground for all sailors. Here, in the Terre Bleue, we grow up with the sea and the rhythm of the tides. The sea has shaped our identity and contributes to our prosperity and dynamism. This event offers the opportunity to celebrate our relationship with our Anglo-Irish neighbours and reminds us that we share the same common space: The Channel," commented David Margueritte, President of l'Agglomération du Cotentin.

"For its 100th anniversary, the Rolex Fastnet Race confirms its arrival to Cherbourg-en- Cotentin. By setting course for our port and France since 2021, the legendary event has given itself a new lease of life. And it's a success: the finish is now a huge party in a town whose heart beats to the rhythm of the sailors. We're giving this unique fleet and its crews welcome recognition, and this race establishes Cherbourg-en-Cotentin as one of the great ports of ocean racing. It's further proof that the two shores of the Channel have so much in common," commented Benoît Arrivé City Mayor of Cherbourg-en-Cotentin," commented Benoît Arrivé, City Mayor of Cherbourg-en-Cotentin.

For more information about the Rolex Fastnet Race, visit the official website: www.rolexfastnetrace.com

Related Articles

Less than 48 hours to Rolex Fastnet Race
Battle lines are being drawn up Battle lines are being drawn up for the RORC's centenary Rolex Fastnet Race. As the final day of Admiral's Cup inshore racing took place in the Solent, so several yachts due to take part in Saturday's main event were out training. Posted on 24 Jul
How to follow RORC Centenary Rolex Fastnet Race
At present 451 yachts are entered, which, if all start on Saturday, will break the previous record. This year's centennial edition of the Rolex Fastnet Race will set sail this Saturday, 26 July from the Royal Yacht Squadron line off Cowes, Isle of Wight, bound for Cherbourg-en-Cotentin, France. Posted on 24 Jul
Rolex Fastnet Race: Upwind to the Fastnet Rock
The long range forecast for this year's race shows more benign conditions Teams that competed in the last two Rolex Fastnet Races and are returning for this Saturday's special centenary edition will be breathing a sigh of relief looking at the long term forecast. Posted on 23 Jul
Record MOCRA turn-out for the Rolex Fastnet Race
This year there are 20 multihulls racing for the Crystal Trophy While the four Ultims maxi-trimarans and nine Ocean Fiftys have their own classes in this Saturday's centenary Rolex Fastnet Race, the remaining multihulls convene in the MOCRA class. Posted on 21 Jul
Grand turn-out of Ocean 50s in Rolex Fastnet Race
This trimaran class was given its own start in the Royal Ocean Racing Club's premier event The least well-known of the French offshore classes competing in this year's Rolex Fastnet Race is perhaps the Ocean Fifty. Posted on 20 Jul
Peter Burling on his new directions
Peter Burling, three times America's Cup winner, has embarked on his mid-life sailing renaissance. Peter Burling, three times America's Cup winning helmsman, and recently departed Emirates Team NZ has embarked on his mid-life sailing renaissance. This week in Cowes – he is covering two of those events. Posted on 19 Jul
4 Ultim rocketships to contest Rolex Fastnet Race
The giant 32m long by 23m wide flying trimarans are taking part in the 100th anniversary edition While the 50ft flying catamarans competing at SailGP Portsmouth this weekend will be impressive, charging out of the opposite western end of the Solent will be giant 32m long by 23m wide flying Ultim trimarans taking part in the 100th anniversary edition. Posted on 18 Jul
IMOCAs in the Rolex Fastnet Race
Ocean racing's state of the art One of the most historic and eternally ground-breaking oceanic racing yacht classes is the IMOCA. These 60 footers are the world's most advanced offshore racing monohulls, the class used in the Vendée Globe since its inception in 1989/90. Posted on 16 Jul
A century of human endeavour
The Fastnet Race is regarded as one of offshore sailing's most complete proving grounds For 100 years, the Rolex Fastnet Race has been regarded as one of offshore sailing's most complete proving grounds. It is a place where ambitions and dreams meet harsh reality, where skill, endurance and fortitude are severely tested. Posted on 15 Jul
Rolex Fastnet Race IRC Four preview
The pinnacle of grass roots sailing has 97 entries The very largest yachts, including the 100ft Ultim foiling trimarans and 60ft IMOCAs are an essential part of the spectacle of the Fastnet Race, however a critical element in the race's enduring appeal is that this is predominately a grass roots event. Posted on 14 Jul
Switch One DesignPantaenius Sail 2025 AUS FooterVetus-Maxwell 2021 v2 FOOTER