THE ULTIMATE 2009 FASTNET CHALLENGE

Starts Sunday 9th August 2009

The Fastnet 2009 Race organised by the Royal Ocean Racing Club is renown throughout the world as being one of the premier yacht races.

Competitors will descend upon the Royal Yacht Squadron start line at Cowes on 9th August for the start of the great bi-annual event. The yachts will then head West towards the Needles on the Isle of Wight before making the passage towards the Isles of Scilly, Ireland and the Fastnet Rock. The race finishes 605 miles later at Plymouth and an all night party.

MEC-Sail is once again putting together competitive boats like the Beneteau First 40.7's and the tried and trusted Sigma 38's. You may wish to enter the race as an individual or decide to go the whole hog and arrange your own experienced charter party. Whatever you choose MEC-Sail will be able to provide the yacht, advice and expertise that you will need to make the event a complete success.

As crew you must race over 300 miles with your intended Fastnet crew and yacht, during the previous 12 months preceeding the race. This is an endurance race. It is not easy. It is not a cruise. If your commitment and enthusiasm is there you will do well. However it is a team event and the race is hard and can be difficult. During the course of the race you will develop and use your new found sailing and communication skills. Your undertaking to be on watch every four hours will in itself prove to be a personal challenge.

We have run these campaigns before and we understand the needs of the individuals. Above all else we try to ensure that everyone has fun whilst enjoying the challenge. If while you are undertaking the qualifying races with us, you decide that the race is not for you we will understand if you decide to pull out.

TRAINING REQUIREMENT:

It is the skipper’s responsibility to ensure that the following criteria are met and that copies of Certificates or Letters of Attendance are submitted to RORC.

1. First Aid: at least 2 crewmembers.

2. Sea Survival: at least 50% of the crew shall have training or instruction in the use of liferafts. This should include a session spent in a pool with a liferaft.

Notes: Training must have taken place in the 5 years preceding the start. In the case of 2 handed entries both crewmembers shall have completed first aid and sea survival training. Full details will be available in 2009 RORC.

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