The 695nm route from Cowes to Cherbourg

Of the world’s bluewater classics, the Rolex Fastnet Race is arguably the most highly revered. Hosted and organised by the Royal Ocean Racing Club since 1925, the biennial race departs from Cowes on the Isle of Wight, on England’s south coast. The race start is to the sound of cannon fire from the historic Royal Yacht Squadron, a renowned institution partnered by Rolex since the early 1980s.

Sailors then head west along the English Channel towards the south coast of Ireland, where they round the iconic Fastnet Rock. Having formerly finished in Plymouth, the race since 2021 has concluded in Cherbourg, in the north coast of France, creating a longer 695nm challenge.

The iconic Fastnet Rock

“The Rolex Fastnet Race is a rite of passage for any sailor,” says Rolex Testimonee Paul Cayard. “It is a relentless and often brutal challenge. It demands a multitude of skills – navigational and tactical awareness, flawless preparation, exemplary teamwork and resilience in the face of the harshest conditions.”

Since 2001, Rolex has been a partner of the race, which two years ago featured a record 430 yachts from around the world for its 50^th edition. Martine Grael, another Rolex Testimonee, admires the race for its inclusivity.

“The experience of offshore sailing is so raw it ignites your senses,” she says. “At races like the Rolex Fastnet Race, it does not matter who you are, your background or where you come from. The age, size and type of boat is also unimportant. This is sailing at its purest, and to participate is both a privilege and an accomplishment to be savoured.”

Karl Kwok

Karl Kwok’s TP52 Beau Geste is among entries for the 100^th-anniversary edition of the Rolex Fastnet Race (starting July 26), three decades after he first competed in the race in 1995 with his ILC 40 Beau Geste.

“It was a very light year, making it a slow race,” Kwok says. “The first night was very tricky, trying to get around Land’s End. Two of our close competitors hit the rocks while trying to avoid the strong tides. I will have a handful of friends from the 1995 race rejoin the team in 2025. I’ve had the privilege of having friends from Hong Kong join me on many races.”

Gavin Brady – who has competed in multiple America’s Cup campaigns, and Whitbread and Volvo Ocean Races – has raced for three decades with Kwok, who famously won the 1997 edition of the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race.

Kwok competing in the 2009 Rolex Fastnet Race on his Farr 80 Beau Geste

“Racing has given me many adventures, and the team and I have had an amazing journey, experiencing so many different types of competition,” says Kwok, who has raced since 1975. “Yacht racing is so unique because you can be short-course racing in Newport or competing in a bluewater classic like the Rolex Fastnet Race.”

Kwok has owned over a dozen boats named Beau Geste including a MOD 70, a Botin 80 and a Farr 80, competing on the latter in back-to-back editions of the Rolex Fastnet Race in 2009 and 2011.

Kwok (far right) with Cowen Chiu and Margaret Kwok in 2009

“In 2009, we had a very close race with Ran 2 all the way around the course. Ran came in first that year, but we were inspired to try again in 2011. This time, we were leading but had the disappointment of having to withdraw due to structural issues with the boat. This is the harsh reality of offshore racing – going head-to-head with mother nature.”

This year, Kwok will compete on his TP52 Beau Geste in both the Admiral’s Cup and Rolex Fastnet Race, with Brady again serving as tactician. Kwok will effectively have two boats in both events as owner of a new Botin-designed Fast 40, Beau Ideal, which will be skippered by David Sweete, a member of Kwok’s team for 12 years.

Kwok also raced on his Farr 80 Beau Geste in the 2011 Rolex Fastnet Race

“We’ve been focusing on the Admiral’s Cup and the Rolex Fastnet Race for a year, and we have a mix of young and experienced sailors, a balance I find important not only for our result but for the future of the sport. Our aim is to be well-prepared and ready for anything, which is easier said than done,” Kwok says.

“This Rolex Fastnet Race is a difficult one because it’s part of the Admiral’s Cup campaign for us. It’s the final race after two weeks of build-up and inshore racing. We must switch from inshore to offshore mode within 24 hours, which means changing not just equipment but the mindset of the team. It’s going to be a great challenge, one of our biggest tests in many years of racing.”

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