Sutton Harbour counts down to Rolex Fastnet
Run biennially since the early 1930s, the race sets off from Cowes on the Isle of Wight at 10.50am on Sunday (Aug 14). The yachts race on a course of approx 608 miles via the Fastnet Rock to the finish line at the western end of the breakwater in Plymouth Sound.
The first boats are expected to arrive in Sutton Harbour on Tuesday but some make take a week to cover the distance.
A record fleet of 350 yachts in 10 classes have entered the 2011 Rolex Fastnet Race, ranging in size from just 30 feet to the 140-foot French trimaran Maxi Banque Populaire.
They will be up against the course record of one day, 20 hours, and 18 minutes set by ICAP Leopard in 2007.
To cater for the record number of entrants Sutton Harbour Marina has made the complete berthing area next to West Pier and the city’s historic Barbican area available to the Rolex Fastnet Fleet. The marina is owned by the Sutton Harbour Group, which is the official berth provider for the race and is an Official Supporter.
Sutton Harbour Group Chief Executive Nigel Godefroy said: “We are very proud of the quality of facilities we have here in Sutton Harbour and being selected as the official berthing provider for the Rolex Fastnet Race, and look forward to welcoming the fleet to Plymouth.”
The finishing touches are being put to the construction of the Race Village in and around the Barbican and Sutton Harbour Marina Manager Mark Brimacombe has been working closely with race organisers.
He said: “This prestigious race is a fantastic opportunity to showcase Plymouth and its facilities, especially with the America’s Cup just around the corner, and we’ve been working round the clock this week to make sure we’re ready to welcome what is a very large fleet. The public will get an excellent view of boats moored up once they start arriving from Tuesday onwards.”
The Rolex Fastnet Race is organised by the Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC) in association with the Royal Western Yacht Club and the Royal Yacht Squadron and has been sponsored by Rolex SA of Geneva since 2001. Follow the race live at www.fastnet.rorc.org