The 51st Rolex Fastnet Race delivered drama worthy of its legend, with the Yacht Club de Monaco emerging as the dominant force – yet the ultimate prize, the revived Admiral’s Cup, remains tantalisingly undecided.
In the early hours of Tuesday, July 29, the sleek maxi Black Jack 100 stormed into Cherbourg-en-Cotentin to claim line honours after 2 days, 12 hours, 31 minutes and 21 seconds of gruelling offshore racing. Skippered by Tristan Le Brun and owned by Remon Vos, the Monaco-flagged yacht snatched victory from SHK Scallywag in a duel that kept spectators glued to trackers until the very end.
The turning point came at the iconic Fastnet Rock, where Le Brun’s crew executed flawless tactics and three lightning-fast sail changes to exploit 20-knot gusts. The move reversed last year’s heartbreak in the Middle Sea Race, where Scallywag had edged them by 20 minutes. “This time, the tables turned – and we took our revenge,” said a jubilant Vos at the dock.
Adding to Monaco’s celebrations, Leopard 3 – also racing under YCM colours – crossed just five minutes behind Scallywag to secure third in real time, underlining the club’s growing dominance on the international circuit.
But there’s no rest for the victors. Black Jack 100 is already being prepped for the Palermo–Monte Carlo starting August 19, another marquee event where YCM will aim to keep its winning streak alive.
The bigger story, however, may yet unfold with the Admiral’s Cup. After two decades in hibernation, the prestigious team trophy is back with a new points-heavy format that makes the Fastnet – carrying triple weight – the decider. With the Channel Race and six Solent inshore races already in the books, everything hinges on corrected times.
YCM has fielded two Jolt entries in the Cup – Jolt 6, helmed by Vice President Pierre Casiraghi, and Jolt 3 under Peter Harrison – both locked in a knife-fight with the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club and the ever-threatening Yacht Club Costa Smeralda. Their finishes in Cherbourg were expected within minutes of each other and their rivals, making every tick of the clock matter.
Meanwhile, Monaco’s influence extends far beyond its maxis. Oren Nataf’s Rayon Vert competes in the multihull class, Giovanni Lombardi Stronati flies both Monegasque and Italian colours with two separate entries, and rising talent Didier Schouten made his English Channel debut at the helm of Ocean Breeze – a promising first step on the big stage.
While Black Jack 100’s name is already etched in the Fastnet’s roll of honour, the story is far from over. In the IRC standings, the final verdict is still brewing – and with the smallest margins capable of rewriting history, the winner of the Admiral’s Cup could be decided only when the last sails drop.
For now, Monaco basks in glory, but as always with the Fastnet, the wind has the final word.
