In front of the Royal Yacht Squadron’s magnificent clubhouse in Cowes, a record-breaking fleet of 368 yachts embarked on the 47th edition of the Rolex Fastnet Race on Sunday 6 August. Lying ahead is the famous 605-nm race to Plymouth via the Fastnet Rock on the southern tip of Ireland.
The 2017 Rolex Fastnet Race fleet is truly diverse; a quality clearly evident to all of those watching on the shore in Cowes or the thousands following the live start of the race on the internet. The first of seven start sequences was reserved for the fastest multihulls, the final saw the leading monohulls comprising the contrasting designs of Nikata, CQS and Rambler begin their quest for line honours.
