Explosive start to the Rolex Fastnet Race for Admiral's Cup fleet
by Louay Habib / RORC 26 Jul 12:03 PDT
17 July - 1 August 2025
The Red Arrows heralded the return of the Admiral's Cup for the centenary edition of the Rolex Fastnet Race.
The Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team scorched across above the line as the entire Admiral's Cup fleet launched into action with a full-on start right in front of the Royal Yacht Squadron Line.
Jon Desmond's PAC52 Final Final (RORC White) looked to be early at the start and went about before the gun. As cannon-fire signalled the start of the Rolex Fastnet Race for the Admiral's Cuppers, the fleet snarled into a start of titanic proportions. Giovanni Lombardi Stronati's Django WR51 (YCCS) was right on the line but it was an immense show of intense competition.
After the start, Stefan Jentzch's Botin 56 Black Pearl (YCCS) tacked towards the main land shore and was lifted making a good gain but Peter Harrison's TP52 Jolt 3 (YCM) was the early leader on the water, having chosen to stay near the island shore with the fleet.
Approaching Hurst Narrows, the breeze picked up and the leaders were close to ten knots of boat speed upwind. Black Pearl tacked off Hurst Castle and accelerated to over 12 knots to lead the fleet out of the Solent. Jolt 3 was second on the water and Gordon Ketelby's TP52 Zen (CYCA), who had hugged the island shore, was in third. Eric de Turckheim's NM54 Teasing Machine (YCdF) was going well.
After passing Hurst, Black Pearl sailed up to the Needles, Jolt 3 tacked before, as did the chasing pack. The entire fleet then tacked towards the Dorset Coast, bar Edelweiss. After passing the Isle of Purbeck, the fleet headed offshore before tacking back towards Portland Bill. Black Pearl and Jolt 3 were hitting over 11 knots of boat speed.
Four hours into the Rolex Fastnet Race, the leaders in AC1 after IRC time correction were Jolt 3, Black Pearl and Zen.
In AC2, all of the fleet except Sean Langman's GP42 Back 2 Black (CYCA) chose the island shore after the start. Back 2 Black went north of the rhumb line and made a significant gain. However, Donald Thinschmidt's Ker 43 Abracadabra (NYYC) was the clear leader on the water until Back 2 Black got a great shift to edge in front. Pierre Casiraghi's Carkeek 42 Jolt 6 (YCM) and Karl Kwok's Botin 40 Beau Ideal (RHKYC) found good boat speed along the island shore. At the Hurst Narrows, Back 2 Black was just ahead of Jolt 6 on the water with James Murray's B&C 42 Callisto (RNZYS) and Beau Ideal in hot pursuit.
After Hurst Narrows the fleet headed down the rhumb line but after the Needles the bulk of the fleet tacked west inshore towards Swanage. Tom Kneen's JPK 1180 Sunrise IV (RIYC), Philippe Frantz's NM43 Albator(YCdF) and Thomas Reinecke's Millenium 40 Edelweiss (HSC) went offshore. Sunrise IV and Albator tacked to cover the fleet and looked to make a small gain. After passing the Isle of Purbeck, Jolt 6 was leading, Beau Ideal was second with Chris Frost's Carkeek 40+ AMP-lifi (RORC White) up to third. Four hours into the Rolex Fastnet Race, three JPK 1180s fill the AC2 Class race podium after IRC time correction. Django (YCCS), Sunrise IV, and Per Roman's Garm (RORC Red).
Follow the Admiral's Cup via the official website. All boats have satellite tracking for the duration of the race. admiralscup.rorc.org