LONDON, 26 NOVEMBER 2019 – In a shameful move for British sailing the Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC), organisers of the Fastnet Race, announced at a press conference today that the City of Cherbourg will host the finish of the Rolex Fastnet Race for the 2021 and 2023 editions of the biennial race instead of Plymouth. The switch encourages and secures the future development of the race and opens it to more competitors; in 2019 the race had a waiting list of 150 boats, the club said.
LtoR: Benoît Arrive, Mayor of Cherbourg; Marc Lefevre, Chairman of County Council of Manche; Steven Anderson, RORC Commodore; Jean-Louis Valentin, Chairman of Cotentin Urban Community; Isabelle Vandenberghe, Regional Council of Normandy; Geneviève Gosselin-Fleury, Chairman Cotentin Tourism; Eddie Warden Owen, RORC CEO © Paul Wyeth
The City of Cherbourg-en-Cotentin, The Communauté d’agglomération du Cotentin, the Conseil départemental de la Manche and Normandy Region say their support for the race finish enhances the competitor experience with increased berthing, enhanced shoreside facilities, competitor functions and events in an exciting development for the race.
This evening Plymouth council’s reaction was unequivocal: “We are beyond disappointed with today’s announcement by the RORC as Plymouth has hosted the end of this tough race since it started in 1925. Plymouth is the city which welcomed hundreds of sailors home every two years after a gruelling 608 mile course.
“It is the city that saw a battered fleet limp in during the 1979 race which resulted in tragic loss of life and involved the largest ever peacetime rescue operation.
“It is the city that saw the rebirth of the race which attracts amateurs and professionals alike compete to break new records along a very distinct course. Plymouth is part of the race’s DNA and the Royal Ocean Racing Club has called Plymouth the race’s ancestral home.
“We had talks at the highest level about the role Plymouth could play in the Fastnet’s new, more commercial future. Our main challenge was the berths are spread wider geographically than RORC would have liked. We had been working on plans to address this but do not yet have the infrastructure the event organisers require.”
Since seven boats competed in the first race in 1925, the RORC has continued to push the boundaries for this veteran offshore race. The 2019 Rolex Fastnet Race had 388 yachts on the start line from 27 different nations; the entries sold out in three and half minutes. In aiming to foster greater participation and improve access to the race the RORC says enhanced facilities offered by Cherbourg give the opportunity for more boats and sailors to take part in the Fastnet in future years.
Speaking about the benefits of Cherbourg as the finish venue, RORC Commodore, Steven Anderson, said: “It is an exciting time for this iconic and extremely successful race. Finishing the Rolex Fastnet Race in Cherbourg will encourage and secure the continued growth of the Club’s most prestigious event and provide an enhanced competitor experience. The enthusiasm of the French for offshore racing is legendary, and the City of Cherbourg-en-Cotentin, The Communauté d’agglomération du Cotentin, the Conseil départemental de la Manche and Normandy Region have been hugely passionate and committed partners in this initiative.
“The race has grown steadily over the past two decades and more and more people want to take part. We have had to limit entries in recent years because of berthing constraints, but Cherbourg offers significant additional berthing and improved facilities for competitors, so we will be able to take a larger number of entries and give more sailors the opportunity to compete in this very special race.”
RORC CEO, Eddie Warden Owen commented that the founding fathers who competed in the very first race in 1925 would be proud that the race has survived all these years and seen unprecedented growth. “The French are known for their passion for offshore racing and French sailors regularly compete in and have won the Rolex Fastnet Race. This is exciting times for the Royal Ocean Racing Club and the Rolex Fastnet Race as we continue to evolve and expand for the benefit of our members and offshore racing sailors worldwide.”
Benoît Arrive, Mayor of Cherbourg-en-Contentin said: “The Solent is not far from our port and I am very happy that we can bring them together by hosting this very important sailing event for the first time. Our port is used to hosting major sailing events and is looking forward to being the arrival city for the next two editions. 2021 and 2023 will be exceptional for the Rolex Fastnet Race.”