Please select your home edition
Edition
Henri-Lloyd Dynamic Range

One week to RORC Centenary Rolex Fastnet Race registration opening

by James Boyd / RORC 7 Jan 08:56 PST 26 July 2025
Reaching the Fastnet Rock is a significant moment in the Rolex Fastnet Race © Rolex / Daniel Forster

Just one week remains to go until the all-important opening of registration for the Royal Ocean Racing Club's centenary Rolex Fastnet Race. This will take place on Wednesday 15 January at 1000 UTC (1100 Europe).

Those wishing to participate in the world's largest offshore yacht race must do so via the RORC's entry system www.sailraceHQ.com. With the usual deluge of entries anticipated, Racing Manager of the RORC Steve Cole strongly advises those who have not used SailRaceHQ before, to set up an account within the system well before 15 January. This will dramatically reduce the effort it takes competitors to enter the Rolex Fastnet Race, when the big day arrives.

As usual RORC members will benefit from priority entry to the Rolex Fastnet Race as well as a reduced entry fee.

While the race in 2023 was the 50th edition, this year's Rolex Fastnet Race will be special being the event's 100th anniversary. At the finish in Plymouth of the ground-breaking event in 1925, the 'Ocean Racing Club', as it was first known, was set up as a club for Fastnet Race competitors, a feature that remains unchanged today with Fastnet Race participation still being the principal pathway to full membership of the Royal Ocean Racing Club.

Just seven yachts entered the first race in 1925, won by the modified Le Havre pilot cutter Jolie Brise, campaigned by the first Commodore of the Club, Lt Cdr EG Martin. Starters in the race for the first time exceeded 100 in 1963, 200 in 1967 and 300 in 1979. Recent years has continued to see participation grow with 388 entered in pre-Covid 2019 and the present record of 430 starters in 2023. In registering for the last race, 400 yachts signed up just 30 minutes after the doors opened.

As usual the biennial 695 mile race from Cowes to Cherbourg via the Fastnet Rock and Bishop Rock will attract the broadest range of offshore racers: from the French non-IRC classes such as Class40s, the IMOCAs currently competing in the Vendée Globe and the giant Ultime, MOD70s and Multi 50 trimarans, to the world's largest IRC fleet. This is set to span maxi yachts to bespoke IRC racers to cruiser-racers, a multitude of one design or manufacturer classes within classes such as the various Sun Fasts, JPKs and J-Boats models, to classics and family, club and sailing school entries - all keen to be part of the RORC's giant flagship event. "For many it will be unfinished business, after the big wind races in both 2021 and 2023, when we had a large number of retirements," advises Steve Cole.

The 2025 race fleet will of course be strongly augmented by some of the world's most competitive grand prix yacht racing teams, taking part in the RORC's revitalised Admiral's Cup (see here).

The centenary Rolex Fastnet Race will start from Cowes on Saturday 26 July 2025 with a first warning signal at 1300. Class starts will follow at regular intervals. The full schedule can be found in the event Notice of Race.

Cherbourg-en-Cotentin will be the scene of a major celebration when the sailors arrive. A festive programme including concerts, catering and prize-giving ceremonies will reward the achievements of these sportsmen and women.

Key details:

Related Articles

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
Rolex Fastnet Race IRC Three preview
This has produced the overall winner of two of the last six editions IRC Three may consist of smaller, slower and in some cases older boats than those that will garner headlines in the first couple of days of the Rolex Fastnet Race. Posted on 11 Jul
Rolex Fastnet Race: IRC Two Preview
With 73 entries in IRC Two, the Rolex Fastnet Race is set to deliver a striking display. Could two new JPK 1050s upset the apple cart in IRC Two? Jean-Pierre Kelbert has a habit of breaking the mould in IRC racing, and his new 34-footer may well be a game changer in this competitive division with 73 entries. Posted on 11 Jul
Rolex Fastnet Race IRC One preview
Beyond the French legends there is plenty of international talent with podium potential With 17 editions of the Rolex Fastnet Race to his name, including five class victories along the way and an outright victory in 2015, could anyone bet against Géry Trentesaux doing it again? Posted on 4 Jul
Rolex Fastnet Race: Offshore classics set to race
IRC Zero has a rich seam of ocean-going history running through it IRC Zero has a rich seam of ocean-going history running through it. While French round the world race legend Jean-Luc Van Den Heede (aka VDH) isn't competing in the Rolex Fastnet Race, two of his former steeds will be on the IRC Zero start line. Posted on 2 Jul
Rolex Fastnet Race at 100 – the making of a giant
At present 469 yachts have entered this special edition - a far cry from its humble origins in 1925 One month remains until the 26 July start of the Rolex Fastnet Race, this year celebrating both its centenary as well as that of the club it spawned: the Royal Ocean Racing Club. Posted on 27 Jun
Can a maxi achieve the Rolex Fastnet Race triple?
The fight to claim the prestigious monohull line honours prize is lining up to be a tough one The fight to claim the prestigious monohull line honours prize in the centenary edition of the Royal Ocean Racing Club's Rolex Fastnet Race is lining up to be a tough one between the world's fastest 100ft maxi yachts. Posted on 25 Jun
Rooster 2025C-Tech 2020 Battens 2 728x90 BOTTOMHenri-Lloyd Dynamic Range