THE world’s largest offshore yacht race gets underway tomorrow (Sunday) — the Rolex Fastnet Race — with at least 30 Islanders aiming to come top of the pile from a massive fleet of 450-plus vessels this year.

The 49th event sets sail from The Solent, back to its original position, the day following Cowes Week, but with a new finish port, Cherbourg, rather than Plymouth, which had been the event's traditional venue since 1925.

Olympic sailor Shirley Robertson will come up against friend Jeremy Waitt and his sailing partner Richard Palmer in a field of more than 3,000 sailors.

Isle of Wight County Press: Friends Shirley Robertson and Jeremy Waitt, both of Cowes, will be rivals in this year's Fastnet Race.Friends Shirley Robertson and Jeremy Waitt, both of Cowes, will be rivals in this year's Fastnet Race.

Palmer’s JPK 10.10 has the best shot of breaking France’s winning streak.

Jangada has an enviable track record, having won the 2020 RORC Boat of the Year and the 2019 RORC Transatlantic Race.

Palmer, competing in his tenth Fastnet Race, said: “It’s the world’s most competitive offshore IRC event. We’re looking forward to the increasing level of competition in the two-handed fleet and the new route.”

Isle of Wight County Press: Richard Palmer, left, and Jeremy Waitt celebrating their RORC Transatlantic Race victory in 2019. Richard Palmer, left, and Jeremy Waitt celebrating their RORC Transatlantic Race victory in 2019.

Robertson, who will be competing in her third Fastnet Race, will be racing Sun Fast 3300 Swell.

The Cowes-based Olympic medal winner previously competed on Ludde Ingvall’s maxi, Nicorette, and with fellow Olympian Ian Walker, on Eamonn Conneely’s TP52 Patches.

“I’d done a bit of offshore, but generally I steered or trimmed the main. But on this, I am busy all the time,” Robertson explains.

Isle of Wight County Press:

Despite being an accomplished sailor, it has been back to school for Robertson to learn about the vital rules of the road when sailing offshore — and a new style of boat.

Fortunately, her highly accomplished co-skipper, Henry Bomby, of Exeter, has all the skill-sets necessary.

As usual, the course takes the boats down the south coast, via Lands End, to the Fastnet Rock, off south-west Ireland, befofre heading to Cherbourg, in northern France.

Isle of Wight County Press: Fastnet sailors going past The Needles.Fastnet sailors going past The Needles.

The change of course increases the length of the race from 608 to 695 miles.

  • To follow the race, go to:  https://www.rolexfastnetrace.com

FULL LIST OF ISLAND SAILORS COMPETING

Guy Shelbourne (Venomous), Robbie Southwell (Tala), Flora Greville (Skadi), Lucy Greville (Skadi), Robert Pigot (Itma), Thomas Scott (Itma), Hugh Doherty (Xanaboo), Thomas Scott (Itma), Samuel Mabey (Rumbleflurg), RichardPalmer (Jangada), Jeremy Waitt (Jangada), James Gasper (Emily of Cowes), Brett Aarons (Tala), Cameron Davis (Espresso Martini Too), Christopher James (Skadi), Thomas Dawson (Redshift), Ed Fishwick (Redshift), Nick Joyce (Redshift), James Oxenham (Xanaboo), Sam Smith (Xanaboo), Stuart Greenfield (Morning After), Olivia Finch (Lady J of Cowes), Wendy Phillis-Bailey (Lady J of Cowes), Shirley Robertson (Swell), Kelvin Rawlings (Aries), Brian Thompson (Argo), Marshall Bailey (Lady J of Cowes), Jonny Malbon (Allegra), Derek Saunders (Incisor) and Oscar Cordon (Darkwood).