Prospector Competing in 2015 Rolex Fastnet Race

Prospector returns to action this weekend in the Rolex Fastnet Race, one of ocean racing’s greatest events.  This is the 46th edition of the Fastnet Race which is celebrating its 90th anniversary in 2015 with a record 372 entrants.

The 603 nautical mile race is a test of strategy and skill with challenging tidal currents and changeable weather. The fleet starts off the Royal Yacht Squadron in Cowes, races out of the Solent and down the English Channel passing The Needles, Anvil Point, Portland Bill, Start Point, The Lizard and Land’s End, ahead of the open water passage across the Celtic Sea and the symbolic turn around the Fastnet Rock off the southern coast of Ireland; a rounding that heralds the race’s emblematic moment as the fleet embark on the long return leg to the finish in Plymouth.

We start at 13:40pm British Standard Time, which is 8:40 am edt.  Our start will include our class, IRC Zero with 16 yachts, IRC Canting Keel and the Volvo 65s.  32 yachts in total will be on the line with us including Comanche, Rambler 88, Bella Mente, Lucky, Leopard and Volvo Ocean Race competitors Dongfeng and SCA.  It promises to be a very exciting start. 

IRC Zero is a very diverse class, very different from the fairly homogeneous group we were grouped with for the Transatlantic race.  It is a very similar class, with many of the same yachts, to the one we were in for the Caribbean 600.  We will have our hands full and will be happy to finish in the top half of this group.

Details of the race can be found on the race website:

http://www.rolexfastnetrace.com

There is a terrific race preview video available at:

http://www.rolexfastnetrace.com/Multimedia/multimedia-area-overview.html

The start of the race will be broadcast on radio and TV and will be streamed over the internet at

http://www.rolexfastnetrace.com/Fastnet-Radio-2015/87-9-fm-fastnet-radio-2015.html

You can track the race on Yellowbrick via the internet or the mobile app.  The link for online tracking is:

http://www.rolexfastnetrace.com/Tracking-Full-Page-Hidden/2015-fleet-tracking-race-player.html

We hope you will follow us along on our latest adventure!