Rolex Fastnet Race: SVR-Lazartigue first to finish after 35-knot run home

The primary boat to complete the 2025 Rolex Fastnet Race is the Ultime SVR-Lazartigue, which received multihull line honours this morning, Monday 28 July, crossing the road at 0438 (BST) this morning after 1 day, 17 hours, 18 minutes and 4 seconds of racing.

Lower than hour later, at 0523, Banque Populaire XI, skippered by Armel Le Cléac’h, completed in second.

On the dock in Cherbourg, the 2 crews had been visibly drained, the race having been each mentally taxing and bodily demanding for the six and seven-man groups on the 100ft trimarans.

“I feel all of us are fairly drained from grinding with numerous manoeuvres,” mentioned Kiwi America’s Cup helmsman Pete Burling, who had joined SVR-Lazartigue for the race, with typical understatement.

“All the things is clearly fairly massive as properly. It takes numerous work, however it was an superior trip.”

SVR-Lazartigue Fastnet double winner

For SVR-Lazartigue that is a formidable back-to-back victory, having additionally taken line honours in 2023.

This yr’s staff was made up of co-skippers Tom Laperche and Franck Cammas, crusing with Amélie Grassi, Antoine Gautier, Emilien Lavigne, in addition to Burling.

In 2023 the blue foiling trimaran set a brand new course document of 1 day, 8 hours, 38 minutes, and 27 seconds. This yr circumstances had been significantly slower, and even the foiling Ultimes had been – comparatively talking not less than – crawling upwind at sub-10 knots on the method to the Fastnet Rock.

Nonetheless, as soon as the Ultimes rounded the Fastnet Rock – SVR-Lazartigue at 1622 (BST) on Sunday 27 July, second-placed Banque Populaire XI simply over an hour later – they had been capable of hit warp velocity, instantly bearing away at speeds of 35-37 knots.

SVR Lazartigue skipper Tom Laperche talks to the media in Cherbourg on the end of the Rolex Fastnet Race 2025. Picture: Paul Wyeth/RORC

First dwelling in document fleet

4 Ultime trimarans had been among the many 444 boats which made up a document sized fleet to begin the 2025 Rolex Fastnet Race on Saturday, 26 July.

With a bigger than ever fleet, and a begin space full of spectator craft, negotiating a protected exit of the Solent was vital.

“Franck and Tom did a extremely good job getting us to the beginning line properly. We didn’t have too many boats to work together with on the best way out to Solent, however numerous tacks,” defined Burling.

“All the things takes numerous vitality to do. We peeled from J1 to J2 to make the tacks a bit bit simpler after which had a extremely good journey out.”

“I didn’t rely, however we did a number of manoeuvres,” remembers Laperche. “Numerous tacks, a number of board up, board down, foils, sail modifications too.

“Within the Solent, we solely have, I don’t know, seven minutes between two tacks. We’re six onboard and with an excellent crew, so it was okay. However one tack is not less than 10 minutes.”

First boat dwelling within the 2025 Rolex Fastnet Race, the Ultime SVR Lazartigue, rounds the Fastnet Rock. Picture: Kurt Arrigo/Rolex

2025 Fastnet Multihull winner

SVR-Lazartigue acquired the perfect begin of the large multihulls, although it was the smaller MOD70 Argo who initially led out previous the Needles. Approaching Lyme Bay on the primary night, by taking a extra inshore line SVR Lazartigue claimed the benefit, didn’t relinquish it.

“We took a superb choice to go to the shore, to go near the England Coast,” defined Laperche. “So we managed to cross on starboard with the north-west wind in entrance of [Banque Populaire].

“We took a small benefit at the moment and after that we managed to remain in entrance. It was tough as a result of for the longer [run] getting back from Fastnet to Scillies, the wind was higher for them, stronger behind. So that they got here again, they lowered the hole.”

After the TSS (Visitors Separation Scheme) on the Scilly Isles, the Ultime fleet headed north, crusing east of the rhumb-line with the intention to play the angles for optimum velocity, earlier than the ultimate upwind method to the Fastnet Rock.

After flying across the Rock in a constructing north-westerly, with flat seas, yesterday afternoon the main multihulls once more capable of velocity.

“The journey again, actually confirmed what these boats can do. The common velocity would have been 30, 35 knots, one thing like that. Yeah, it was actually good enjoyable and funky,” mentioned Burling.

“We had between 15 to twenty knots, very flat water – like we don’t see day-after-day. And the boat flying at 35 knots!” commented Laperche.

Second boat dwelling within the 2025 Rolex Fastnet Race was Banque Populaire XI. Picture: Nicolas Touzé/RORC

Second boat dwelling

Second positioned Banque Populaire XI, skippered by Armel Le Cléac’h, chased laborious – splitting away from SVR-Lazartigue to spherical to the north of Alderney on the ultimate method to the end.  However ultimately, Banque Populaire XI completed 45 minutes behind.

“After a light-weight wind begin within the Solent – with approach too many boats round for this stuff! – we managed to get out unscathed,” mentioned Sam Goodhild, who’d joined the Banque Populaire XI crew for the race.

“After which as we left the Solent, I did my first upwind flight, going 30 knots upwind at 50 true, which I didn’t assume was truly potential!

“Then we made the large mistake of the race. After Portland, we went offshore and paid laborious to the boats that had been inshore and principally performed catch up from there on in. We had gentle winds all the best way throughout Celtic Sea with some nasty clouds stopping us. After which a stunning run all the best way dwelling going 35 knots common because the Rock.

“The run again was nice. I used to be driving final night time when the solar was happening. They’re simply superb boats to drive whenever you get all of them locked in and going – it takes numerous winding to get there! – however when you’re there, it’s good enjoyable and also you’re going 35 plus knots downwind. I feel we had been over 40 at one stage on a attain.

“So, a superb race. Good enjoyable. A disgrace we misplaced a lot in Lyme Bay, however that’s the sport. And properly completed to SVR,” Goodchild added.

Third was Precise Ultim 4, with Sodebo fourth to cross the end line.