Rolex Fastnet: France claim Challenge Cup for third consecutive time

PLYMOUTH, ENGLAND, GBR – For a third time running the Rolex Fastnet Race has been a story of French domination, Le Tricolor flying on this occasion from the top spot in IRC 1, 2, 3 and 4, the Class40 and IMOCA 60, the Two Handed and IRC Overall. Even the Chinese boat, Dongfeng Race Team, that won Volvo 65 competition had a largely French crew. This left IRC Zero to American Ron O'Hanley's Cookson 50 PRIVATEER, while, surprisingly, the only British class victory went to Tony Lawson's (GBR) MOD 70 trimaran CONCISE 10, in the usually French-strong Multihull Class. Early on, the overall prize looked set to be a big boat affair with both the JV 115 NIKATA and George David's (USA, NYYC) maxi RAMBLER 88 leading until the run back from the Fastnet Rock favoured the medium-sized boats. –James Boyd writing for the Sail-World.com website today. Full story. Photos courtesy of ELWJ Photography / RORC.

RORC Commodore Michael Boyd presents Didier Gaudoux (FRA), owner and skipper of LANN AEL 2, with the Fastnet Challenge Cup and ROLEX timepiece as the overall winner of the 47th edition of the Rolex Fastnet Race.