Rolex Fastnet Race – Pushing crews to their limits

Founded in 1925, the biennial Rolex Fastnet Race is revered by sailors worldwide as a supreme test of seamanship. Starting from the Isle of Wight in southern England, this 695-nautical mile offshore classic pushes the big fleet of Corinthian and professional crews to their limits, exposing them to challenging Atlantic weather systems as they negotiate the open waters of the Celtic Sea before rounding the mythical Fastnet Rock off the southern tip of Ireland. In 2021, Tom Kneen and the British crew of Sunrise lifted the coveted Fastnet Challenge Cup after taking overall honours on corrected time. The race – which exceptionally finished in Cherbourg, France, rather than Plymouth – marked 20 years of Rolex’s partnership with the event and its organizer, the Royal Ocean Racing Club, as part of its wide-ranging support for yachting dating back more than 60 years. Discover more https://on.rolex.com/3kdzvr2 Rolex has always associated with activities driven by passion, excellence, precision and team spirit. The Swiss watchmaker naturally gravitated towards the elite world of yachting six decades ago and the brand’s enduring partnership now encompasses the most prestigious clubs, races and regattas, as well as towering figures in the sport, including ground-breaking round-the-world yachtsman Sir Francis Chichester and the most successful Olympic sailor of all time, Sir Ben Ainslie. Today, Rolex is Title Sponsor of 15 major international events – from leading offshore races such as the annual Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race and the biennial Rolex Fastnet Race, to grand prix competition at the Rolex TP52 World Championship and spectacular gatherings at the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup and the Rolex Swan Cup. It also supports the exciting SailGP global championship in which national teams race identical supercharged F50 catamarans on some of the world’s most famous harbours. Rolex’s partnerships with the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, Royal Ocean Racing Club, Yacht Club Costa Smeralda, Yacht Club Italiano, New York Yacht Club and Royal Yacht Squadron, among others, are the foundation of its enduring relationship with this dynamic sport. #Rolex #RolexFastnetRace #Perpetual