The organisers of the toughest yacht race in Europe, the Rolex Fastnet Race, have named ‘Alfa Romeo’ and Neville Crichton as the yacht and the skipper to beat in the 2007 event, which starts on 12 August off the Isle of Wight. The leading challenger to Alfa Romeo amongst the 300-strong fleet is Mike Slade’s brand new Leopard 3 in the 608-mile race has long been a favourite of offshore sailors and offers a true test of seamanship, skill and preparation.

“The Rolex Fastnet Race is very much Europe’s answer to the Rolex Sydney to Hobart,” says Neville Crichton, who took line honours in the 2003 Rolex Fastnet Race with previous ‘Alfa Romeo’. “Sailing and weather conditions can run through the full range. In 2003 we had extremely light winds, but the Fastnet has known gales and seas every bit as tough as Bass Strait. Conditions run from inshore, through offshore to open ocean conditions. Superbly organised, it attracts the cream of sailors and yachts from around the world, added yet another unique facet to this race. To win the Fastnet is an absolute highlight of every sailor’s career!”

Despite the work associated with vetting such a large entry, the RORC is delighted that the Rolex Fastnet race is proving to be as popular as ever. "For many years we have had an unofficial cut-off of 300, which is regarded as a manageable size for this race taking into consideration the practicalities of Cowes and Plymouth,” says RORC Racing Manager Janet Grosvenor. “Although we have reached 300 we are maintaining a waiting list. We are screening entries all the time as the process of qualification continues and this means the situation changes almost daily. Owners and crew interested in taking part should not be put off contacting us."
 

While the race is an open event, the RORC has mandated strict guidelines: participating skippers and at least half the crew must have completed (in the yacht in which they will race the Rolex Fastnet Race) either (1) 300 miles of RORC offshore racing, (2) one RORC offshore race plus other offshore racing or non-stop passage totalling 300 miles, or (3) something similar to which the RORC agrees. This has to occur within the 12 months preceding the start of the race.

Former NYYC Commodore Lawrence Huntington's Ker 55, Snow Lion, and fellow American George David's Rambler (ex-Shockwave) skippered by Ken Read are both racing in the HSH Nordbank Blue Race, from Newport, Rhode Island to Hamburg, Germany as part of their warm-up and qualification process for the Rolex Fastnet.