MainSail

SHOW #63

Rolex Fastnet Race

“MainSail” this month focuses on the Rolex Fastnet Race, one of the world's classic yacht races. Every year, hundreds of sailors set off from the Isle of Wight, in the UK, bound for the fabled Fastnet Rock at the southern tip of Ireland. As nearly a hundred boats prepare to set sail, host Shirley Robertson takes a close look at what happened on the tragic night in August 1979 during this classic competition, when the world witnessed the worst disaster ever seen in offshore yacht racing. Viewers will get eye witness accounts from survivors of the tragedy and members of the rescue operation. Take a first hand look at how sea survival is managed today, how methods and technology have changed in 30 years, and whether or not this tragedy could ever happen again.