Rolex Fastnet Race: The Rock - the best pictures from the race of the century

The Fastnet Rock and its lighthouse symbolise 100 years of Rolex Fastnet Race history, the concentrated history of sailing's most famous long-distance race and challengers' dreams come true. That has always been the case. And the 51st edition of the Rolex Fastnet Race is no different. The best Fastnet photographers have captured the special Bergfest images.

Rolex Fastnet Race: Prestige and battle victories

It is true that 100 years after the premiere of this Rolex Fastnet Race, there were no records because the winds did not want to play along, especially in the initial phase. However, there were and still are a number of exciting battles for places in the various divisions. Some of the big battles have already been decided. With the multihull line honours, the "SVR Lazartigue" also celebrated the prestigious victory in the Ultim Giants.

First ship home in the monohulls was the Reichel/Pugh 30m custom "Black Jack 100" after a thrilling final phase, which reached the finish harbour of the almost 700 nautical mile Rolex Fastnet Race just under an hour ahead of its 100-foot rival "SKH Scullywag" after 2 days, 12 hours, 31 minutes and 21 seconds. Although this is not enough for a podium place in the IRC overall standings or in IRC Super Zero, the crew around skipper Tristan Le Brun impressed with their tactically cleverly sailed race.

In the first half of the Rolex Fastnet Race, the Maxi Dovell "SHK Scallywag" - winner of the Rolex Middle Sea Race 2024 - withstood the attacks of the "Black Jack 100" and the "Leopard 3" on the 350 nautical mile long upwind section. After rounding the Fastnet Rock, however, the race to the Isles of Scilly turned into a speed and gybing competition. The crew on "Black Jack 100" managed to take the lead and use both the wind and the tide in their favour on the home straight.

"Rafale" and "Varuna 6" in the final spurt

It also remains exciting in IRC Zero, where two German boats, Henri de Bokay's Elliott 52 SS "Rafale" and Jens Kellinghusen's Ker 56 "Varuna 6", are fighting for a top position. On Tuesday afternoon, it was "Rafale" with Malte Päsler's crew that had moved up to second place in the final sprint, while "Varuna 6" had dropped back to tenth place. However, positions still changed frequently over the last 100 nautical miles.

The Admiral's Cup classes were also full of suspense, with the duos from the leading Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club ("Beau Geste", "Beau Ideal") and the Yacht Club den Monaco ("Jolt 3", "Jolt6") still in a breathless duel for team victory according to the latest interim results. As the IRC handicap calculation is still causing many changes in position, it was impossible to predict who would win the race two days after the start. Click here for all results and intermediate results in the Rolex Fastnet Race.

The German AC-1 yachts "Imagine" and "Elida" have recently been on the rise. The TP52 "Imagine" from Greifswald had moved up to fifth place calculated on the afternoon of Tuesday, while Daniel Baum's beautiful single "Elida" was in sixth place. In AC 2, Walter Watermann's "X-Day" was able to work its way up to ninth place. The crews on "Ginkgo" and "Edelweiss" battled it out for 14th and 15th place, with further strong movement in the positions here too.

Moonless night in the Rolex Fastnet Race

Even before sunrise, "Ginkgo" skipper Dirk Clasen had reported from the sea: "It's night, 18 to 23 knots downwind with jibes, speed 12 to 18 knots through the water, a great ride through the moonless night! ETA at the Scillies around 11 a.m., then a quick trip to Cherbourg, so about 24 hours to go. Keep your fingers crossed."

Beautiful pictures of the Rolex Fastnet Race in the final phase: