MainSail

Episode 40 NEW

Fastnet Race

The Rolex Fastnet Race is one of sailing’s classic offshore events – 608 miles of racing across the Celtic Sea to the Fastnet Rock just south west of the Irish Coast. 300 yachts take part in this biennial event, which leaves from Cowes on the Isle of Wight and finishes in Plymouth on the south coast of England. MainSail presenter and double Olympic gold medallist, Shirley Robertson helmed a yacht in the last one, in 2005. This time, she follows the race for CNN, from a specially-designed filming catamaran.

One of the favorites to win the Rolex Fastnet Race is the brand new 100 foot Super Maxi, Leopard 3. Shirley visits the crew before the race to find out more about this speed machine and how they view their chances. She gets a tour of the specially-designed filming catamaran that will take her around the course. It has a million dollar camera system that produces steady images even in the roughest seas.

With a big storm forecast in the Celtic Sea, the race is postponed by 25 hours and several multi-hulls pull out. The last time there was a big storm in the Fastnet race, in 1979, 15 people died. CNN reporter Liz George goes behind the scenes with the rescue services, as they prepare for a busy few days, and talks to the weather forecasters whose information is so vital to the fleet in these conditions.

Shirley arrives in Plymouth where many of the smaller boats are forced to pull in and retire because of the deteriorating conditions. The sailors describe their experiences in these rough seas. But while more than half the fleet, including her main rival, Alfa Romeo, is forced to retire, Leopard 3, thrives on the windy conditions and smashes the race record by over 8 hours, arriving in Plymouth, where Robertson is waiting to meet her.