The legendary Rolex Fastnet Race will return to Cherbourg-en-Cotentin in July 2027. For a week, the town will welcome the boats and sailors who will have sailed the stormy waters of the English Channel, after crossing the inevitable Fastnet Rock and taming the currents of the Raz Blanchard…
A legendary race
This legendary race dates back to 1925. At the start, just 7 boats set out to tackle the English Channel. They formed the RORC, the Royal Ocean Racing Club. In 2023, the last edition, almost 500 boats and 3,500 sailors (professionals and amateurs) took part.
Competitors in the Rolex Fastnet Race will set off from Cowes in the north of the Isle of Wight. They will sail a short distance of 695 nautical miles (just under 1,300 km) towards Normandy, more precisely Cherbourg-en-Cotentin, passing the famous Fastnet Rock in the south of Ireland.
Cherbourg-en-Cotentin: A land of sailors
Cherbourg-en-Cotentin is one of the most important ports in France. Cherbourg has always been a seafaring town, with its economy and its naval and military history. It was also the starting point for the great transatlantic epics. And let’s not forget the unbreakable links with our British neighbours (England, Ireland and the Channel Islands).
For visitors wishing to discover Normandy by boat, the town has one of the largest marinas in France, with over 1,500 berths available 24 hours a day. The town is proud of its nautical tradition and of the great ocean races. It has hosted the Tall Ships Race, the Solitaire du Figaro and the Course de l’Europe. Cherbourg-en-Cotentin is a true land of sailors.
The Cotentin and, more generally, the Brittany and Normandy regions are open to the sea. These sublime coastlines, whipped up by the wind and the constant ebb and flow of the waves and tides, are ideal for water sports. There’s something for every taste and age. You can try your hand at sailing, surfing or, for the brave, coasteering. These are some of the great Normandy experiences to try!
The legend is coming!
For a week, the town is abuzz with excitement as each boat enters the port of Cherbourg-en-Cotentin. This is one of the largest and most spectacular artificial roadsteads in the world. There will be 400 crews from all over the world. On a giant screen, the public will be able to follow the boats’ manoeuvres live. There will also be entertainment (concerts, water sports) with the transatlantic ferry terminal, now the Cité de la Mer, in the background.
The first boats will be arriving, led by the Imoca fleet (18 m long yachts), followed by the IRCs (all categories) and the Class 40s (12 m long yachts).