Latest news with #RolexFastnetRace
Hamilton Spectator
7 days ago
- Sport
- Hamilton Spectator
Yachting: Monaco Triumphs at the Admiral's Cup, Historic Victory for the Yacht Club
MONACO, Aug. 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — First participation and first historic victory: Yacht Club de Monaco wins the 2025 Admiral's Cup with a nail-biting finale. Led by the YCM's vice-president, Pierre Casiraghi ( Jolt 6 ), and Peter Harrison ( Jolt 3 ), the two Monegasque teams dominated the Rolex Fastnet Race, the final and decisive event (coefficient 3) of the trophy, surpassing the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club and the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda. In its very first appearance, YCM claimed victory in a revived edition of the Admiral's Cup after more than twenty years, which saw 15 nations compete across three stages: the Channel Race (160 miles, coeff. 2), six inshore races in the Solent, and finally the Rolex Fastnet Race. It was over the final 695 miles that the overall standings were decided. Pierre Casiraghi, at the helm of Jolt 6 , won his class on corrected time. 'Honestly, I still can't believe what we've achieved. Winning the Admiral's Cup in its revival and on Monaco's debut, is indescribable. I'm not a professional helm, and this was the most exhausting race I've ever done.' He went on to praise the entire team: 'We knew the Fastnet would be decisive and our team executed it flawlessly. Will Harris, our navigator, was phenomenal, he didn't miss a beat. From the moment we exited the Solent, everything went to plan. We held the lead, fought off relentless pressure from Callisto (RNZYS) and Beau Ideal (RHKYC), and made every move count. It was truly a collective effort, from the sailors to the shore crew. I hope this inspires the new generation of young sailors at YCM - they followed our every move. Right now, I'm exhausted and can't imagine doing another offshore on a 42-footer anytime soon, but it's been a magical journey.' Jolt 3 also delivered a strong performance with Peter Harrison, finishing third in real time in the AC Class 1: 'This is without a doubt the biggest result I've ever had in sailing and I doubt it will ever be topped. Helping bring Yacht Club de Monaco its first Admiral's Cup victory at the first attempt is simply extraordinary.' He added: 'From the start, Pierre Casiraghi and I believed in this campaign. The Club was fully behind us, and with Matt Adams coordinating and a world-class team around us we built something truly special. It's a huge moment for Monaco and I believe it firmly establishes YCM as a force in offshore sailing. The event was impeccably run and every race completed. Full credit to the RORC team.' With Jolt 3 placing first in AC Class 1 and Jolt 6 second in AC Class 2, Monaco secured the team trophy with a 16-point lead over the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club. The award ceremony is scheduled for Thursday, July 31 at 6:00 p.m. at the Rolex Fastnet Race Event Village. Other YCM crews also posted strong results: Black Jack 100 , skippered by Remon Vos (with Tristan Le Brun), won the Monohull Line Honours ahead of Leopard 3 ; Rayon Vert , helmed by Oren Nataf, finished 19th among multihulls. Young sailor Didier Schouten completed his first major Channel crossing aboard Ocean Breeze . Focus now shifts to The Ocean Race Europe (August 10 – September 21): Will Harris and Cole Brauer will return to sea aboard Malizia-Seaexplorer , with stops in Kiel, Portsmouth, Porto, Cartagena, Nice, Genoa, and a final arrival in Montenegro. For more information: Press Office LaPresse - A photo accompanying this announcement is available at
Toronto Star
7 days ago
- Sport
- Toronto Star
Yachting: Monaco Triumphs at the Admiral's Cup, Historic Victory for the Yacht Club
MONACO, Aug. 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — First participation and first historic victory: Yacht Club de Monaco wins the 2025 Admiral's Cup with a nail-biting finale. Led by the YCM's vice-president, Pierre Casiraghi (Jolt 6), and Peter Harrison (Jolt 3), the two Monegasque teams dominated the Rolex Fastnet Race, the final and decisive event (coefficient 3) of the trophy, surpassing the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club and the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda. In its very first appearance, YCM claimed victory in a revived edition of the Admiral's Cup after more than twenty years, which saw 15 nations compete across three stages: the Channel Race (160 miles, coeff. 2), six inshore races in the Solent, and finally the Rolex Fastnet Race. It was over the final 695 miles that the overall standings were decided.
The Star
31-07-2025
- Sport
- The Star
Sailing-Builder and skipper power Leon to Fastnet triumph in centenary race
(Reuters) -Alexis Loison and Jean-Pierre Kelbert were on Thursday crowned overall winners of the centennial Rolex Fastnet Race aboard JPK 1050 Leon, with boat builder Kelbert helping steer his creation to success in the 100th year of the Royal Ocean Racing Club's offshore classic. The French double-handed duo secured the Fastnet Challenge Cup after beating a record field of 444 boats ranging from 30ft (9.14 metre) keelboats to giant 105ft (32m) Ultim foiling trimarans on the 695 nautical mile course. "We had a very good boat," said Loison. "I was racing with Jean-Pierre, the builder of the JPK boats, which are now very well-known on the international offshore racing scene, and we had a great time. We really fought hard." Loison's victory makes him one of the rare sailors to win the Rolex Fastnet Race twice. He first claimed the prize in 2013 alongside his father Pascal, when they became the first double-handed crew to beat all fully-crewed boats to offshore racing's biggest prize. "It's really the same feeling as 12 years ago. An unexpected victory, but with just as much joy. Arriving in my home city, Cherbourg, the city of my heart," Loison said. French double-handed teams swept the podium, with Lann Ael 3 second and Amarris third. Loison noted the common thread, saying: "It's no coincidence that there are Figaro sailors on board each of the top three ... All of us have been through the best offshore racing school in the world, the Figaro." Often called the 'Tour de France of sailing,' the Figaro circuit is France's premier offshore racing school and a renowned proving ground for elite sailors. Its signature event, the Solitaire du Figaro, is a gruelling solo multi-stage race sailed in identical 32ft(9.75m) boats, demanding precision navigation, stamina, and tactical brilliance. Many of the world's top offshore racers — including Vendee Globe winners and Fastnet champions — cut their teeth in the Figaro. Kelbert, whose JPK boats have dominated offshore competition for over a decade, praised their 34ft(10.36m) vessel's performance, saying: "Its reaching performance is just amazing because with this powerful hull you can sail higher angles with the big kite even in 25 knots of wind. It's so fast, it's like a rocket." Loison has already confirmed his return for 2027, the 40-year-old declaring the Rolex Fastnet Race is in his blood. (Reporting by Ossian Shine; Editing by Ken Ferris)
Straits Times
31-07-2025
- Sport
- Straits Times
Builder and skipper power Leon to Fastnet triumph in centenary race
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Alexis Loison and Jean-Pierre Kelbert were on Thursday crowned overall winners of the centennial Rolex Fastnet Race aboard JPK 1050 Leon, with boat builder Kelbert helping steer his creation to success in the 100th year of the Royal Ocean Racing Club's offshore classic. The French double-handed duo secured the Fastnet Challenge Cup after beating a record field of 444 boats ranging from 30ft (9.14 metre) keelboats to giant 105ft (32m) Ultim foiling trimarans on the 695 nautical mile course. "We had a very good boat," said Loison. "I was racing with Jean-Pierre, the builder of the JPK boats, which are now very well-known on the international offshore racing scene, and we had a great time. We really fought hard." Loison's victory makes him one of the rare sailors to win the Rolex Fastnet Race twice. He first claimed the prize in 2013 alongside his father Pascal, when they became the first double-handed crew to beat all fully-crewed boats to offshore racing's biggest prize. "It's really the same feeling as 12 years ago. An unexpected victory, but with just as much joy. Arriving in my home city, Cherbourg, the city of my heart," Loison said. French double-handed teams swept the podium, with Lann Ael 3 second and Amarris third. Loison noted the common thread, saying: "It's no coincidence that there are Figaro sailors on board each of the top three ... All of us have been through the best offshore racing school in the world, the Figaro." Often called the 'Tour de France of sailing,' the Figaro circuit is France's premier offshore racing school and a renowned proving ground for elite sailors. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore No entry: ICA to bar high-risk, undesirable travellers from boarding S'pore-bound ships, flights Singapore 5 foreign women suspected of trafficking 27kg of cocaine nabbed in Changi Airport Singapore Over half of job applications by retrenched Jetstar Asia staff led to offers or interviews: CEO Singapore Fallen tree branch damages two Yishun flats, showering one home owner in shattered glass Singapore Man accused of raping woman who hired him to fix lights in her flat claims she made first move Singapore Jail for ex-employee of agency under MOH who corruptly obtained $18k trip from 2 men Singapore ICJ's climate ruling may spur scrutiny of S'pore carbon tax, firms' climate action plans Singapore 'Switching careers just as I became a dad was risky, but I had to do it for my family' Its signature event, the Solitaire du Figaro, is a gruelling solo multi-stage race sailed in identical 32ft (9.75m) boats, demanding precision navigation, stamina, and tactical brilliance. Many of the world's top offshore racers — including Vendee Globe winners and Fastnet champions — cut their teeth in the Figaro. Kelbert, whose JPK boats have dominated offshore competition for over a decade, praised their 34ft (10.36m) vessel's performance, saying: "Its reaching performance is just amazing because with this powerful hull you can sail higher angles with the big kite even in 25 knots of wind. It's so fast, it's like a rocket." Loison has already confirmed his return for 2027, the 40-year-old declaring the Rolex Fastnet Race is in his blood. REUTERS
The Star
29-07-2025
- Sport
- The Star
Sailing-France's Bonafous becomes first woman skipper to win Fastnet in an IMOCA
(Reuters) -Elodie Bonafous carved out a slice of offshore racing history on Tuesday, becoming the first woman to win the IMOCA class in the Rolex Fastnet Race after a nail-biting duel that went down to the wire. The 29-year-old French sailor, skippering the freshly launched Association Petits Princes–Queguiner IMOCA with Vendee Globe veteran Yann Elies aboard, crossed the line in Cherbourg just seven minutes ahead of Jeremie Beyou's Charal after more than two days of racing in a record 444-strong fleet. Bonafous held her nerve through a tense final night of drifting conditions and tactical gambles that saw the lead change hands in dramatic fashion. After guiding her crew around Fastnet Rock at the front of the pack, she was briefly overhauled by rivals in the Channel. But the breakthrough moment came east of Guernsey, where Bonafous fought back to reclaim top spot in what turned into a gripping match race with Charal that came down to the final miles. 'We are very happy to be here,' Bonafous said, beaming upon her arrival. 'We are in good shape. It was tight at the end. It was a great victory." Sailing a boat launched only in February, Bonafous blended smarts, steel and speed to outfox some of the IMOCA fleet's biggest names and her victory marked a defining moment in the race's centenary edition, delivering a masterclass in timing and tenacity that will be remembered as a watershed moment for women in offshore sailing. Beyou was sanguine at settling for second place. 'When the wind is steady, I think we are quicker, but when it's light, we are stuck. But it was a lot of fun and it was never over until the finish," he said. "This was a very classic Fastnet race, upwind to the Rock and then the wind coming from behind on the way back. "It was nice to sail with a crew on the IMOCA and to race it at 100% so you could carry out all the strategic tacks and gybes you wanted. It's always intense in an IMOCA race, but a bit more like this.' The IMOCA class (International Monohull Open Class Association) is a fleet of cutting-edge, 60-foot offshore racing yachts designed for competition in some of the world's toughest ocean races. IMOCAs are characterised by their lightweight carbon construction, towering masts and distinctive 'Dali' foils that lift the hull partially out of the water to reduce drag. The biennial Fastnet Race traces a challenging 695-nautical miles course from Cowes on England's Isle of Wight around Ireland's famous Fastnet Rock before finishing in Cherbourg — a test that has challenged sailors' skill and endurance for a century. (Reporting by Ossian Shine; Editing by Ken Ferris)
