"It will be a tricky start with up to 40 knots of wind and current from the front," announced Melwin Fink on Saturday afternoon shortly before the start. Together with Lennart Burke, Fink had brought the Class 40 "SignForCom" from Cherbourg to Cowes the day before. After a night on the Isle of Wight, the two young professionals were ready for their first Fastnet race together on the Pogo 40 S4 on Saturday.
It definitely gets really nasty with the Needles" (Melwin Fink)
"We are very well prepared. So is the boat. We got over well and are now looking forward to the start," said Melwin Fink on Sunday morning before the start of the 50th Rolex Fastnet Race with a gigantic record fleet of more than 450 registered boats. "It's definitely going to be really nasty at the Needles," Melwin Fink commented respectfully on the upcoming opening section.
Lennart Burke said: "We've heard of other sailors going the other way round the Isle of Wight. We'll see what happens. In any case, our plan is to go straight past the Needles and 'safety first'. Secure everything, get through the front well and then go full throttle." The crew expects the front to be through an hour or two after midnight German time. "Then we can go full throttle, then nothing else will be big. And we'll settle the accounts at the finish."
"Medallia" and "Charal" with early starts in the 50th Rolex Fastnet Race
Among the first starting groups were the Imocas, which mostly crossed the line with two reefs in crisp winds in British "laundry room weather" against a grey backdrop. With "Medallia" and "Charal", two well-known boats were too early and automatically incurred two-hour penalties, which were added to the time sailed at the end. "Was it worth it?" asked co-host Annie Lush and others. In "skimming" mode, the Imocas then set off on foils on the almost 700 nautical mile course from Cowes via Fastnet Rocks in the Irish Sea to the French destination harbour of Cherbourg.
After the Imocos, the Class 40 crews were put to the test. They opened the long distance with a mass early start. According to initial information, however, Lennart Burke and Melwin Fink on "SignForCom" were not among the early starters. The IRC groups followed, starting with the largest boats in the IRC Zero field.
With around 450 participants, ranging from the world's fastest ocean-going yachts to 30-footers and classics, the race has come a long way in its 50 editions and also reflects monumental changes in society and technology.
The first Fastnet Race, which was still known as the "Ocean Race" at its premiere in 1925, established the offshore sport on the European side of the Atlantic. At that time, sailing was of great importance in England, which was mainly due to the participation of the royal family. In the 19th century, Queen Victoria and Prince Albert were sailing enthusiasts and Her Majesty spent much of the latter part of her reign near Cowes at Osbourne House.
The first edition of what would later become the America's Cup had already taken place off the Isle of Wight in 1851. In the meantime, royal regattas were held every year in the British Isles, followed by an entourage of aristocrats and wealthy members of royal society.
A look at the start lists 98 years later reveals how the sport has changed. Renowned professional racing teams and ambitious amateur crews, family teams and ambitious two-handed crews started in the anniversary edition. The well-known Australian navigator Andrew Cape said: "There is a 75 per cent chance that the existing Fastnet record will be broken."
THE OUTLOOK! By far the biggest offshore race in the world before the start:
Tatjana Pokorny
Sports reporter
