RWYC Centenary Fastnet Race 10th August 2025
An arduous exhilarating adventure...
Following the original course: starting Cowes, 10th August 2025 sailing East around Isle of Wight, off Lands End, around the Fastnet Rock on to Plymouth.
Our vessel Aries, 43ft steel blue water ketch. Sailed around UK (locked out of the dreaded Lockdown 2020) and worked on off-beaten track voyages & expeditions.
Hank on jibs/genoa, wheel steering, jibs, staysails, mainsail, mizzen staysail, mizzen, twin poles, and spinnakers.
Join a crew of up to 6. Sharing watches. For those new to ketches, new to 650nm+ distances, and new to poles & spinnakers; its a great experience to learn hoisting, trimming & stowing spinnakers, sharing watches, helming, eating & cooking fresh foods onboard. There's 1 double bunk & 5 single bunks for comfort and privacy. Heads & galley.
I've skippered Fastnets 2015 & 2017. Have 250,000+nm over 30 years of professional sailing on Tall Ships, traditional yachts, private yachts, deliveries, trans-atlantics and Yachtmaster Instructor/Chief Instructor training Yachtmasters. I'm really keen to encourage crew on a great race, on a safe, busy hands on yacht.
At 4 to 6 days depending on weather; the Fastnet is a significant undertaking through shipping lanes, weather & sea state of Western approaches, and often near coasts. For the boat to qualify for the Fastnet Race we are required to have the yacht, the skipper & at least half the crew to complete a 300nm voyage - which we can arrange at a convenient time in June. And arrange training in the boat sailing, motoring & emergency systems - developing & making suitable for our team.
Crew just need to bring wet weather gear, bedding, personal insurance, sense of humour, and big bag of enthusiasm.
The Race requires stringent safety gear as per Offshore Safety Regulations Category 2. On board will be provided individual safety kit: lifejackets, light, hood, leg-straps, whistle, & PLB/AIS, safety line, plus MOB, fire, flood, collision, drogue, storm sails, engine & generator, life-raft & abandon gear. Also included will be fresh foods, gas, all race, fees, yacht insurances. Patience, enthusiasm, good humour, motivated competitive spirit...
Expecting costs to be around £1100pp
A solid long-distance blue-water yacht, plenty of sail area, great opportunity to compete in an adventurous arduous rewarding Centenary Fastnet.
Please get in touch for more information, to register interest and join the team.
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