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Isle Of Wight Sailors Set Off For World's Largest Offshore Race

Photo thanks to Rolex/photographer.

At least 30 sailors from the Isle of Wight will take part in the Rolex Fastnet Race, which sets off today (Sunday).

A record-breaking 400 yachts will depart Cowes, headed for the Fastnet Rock off southwest Ireland.

For the first time in the race's 96-year history, the finish line will be in Cherbourg, France - some 695 nautical miles away.

A host of Islanders sailors will take part in the event, including double Olympic Gold medallist Shirley Robertson OBE.

She will co-skipper the Sun Fast 3300 Swell alongside four time Figaro sailor Henry Bomby.

This will be her third Fastnet having previously competed on Ludde Ingvall’s maxi Nicorette and with fellow Olympian Ian Walker on Eamonn Conneely’s TP52 Patches.

“I’d done a bit of offshore, but generally I steered or trimmed the main, but on this I am busy all the time,” Shirley said.

Also taking to the waves with their crew are friends Sam White and Sam North, from Yarmouth. 

Sam White said:

 “The race gives you a real sense of achievement and because of its history and racing alongside fellow competitors, what else would I do on a Fastnet year, but take part! We’re both called Sam so we are calling ourselves the SamSquared team.

 “I mostly have a young crew, several of whom have sailed with me for years (we won the Youth Trophy for the RORC Seasons Points Championship in 2019). The youngsters mostly know each other from the British Keelboat Academy and my son is a regular on the crew."

A full list of Isle of Wight competitors can be found here:

  • Guy Shelbourne (Venomous)
  • Robbie Southwell (Tala)
  • Flora Greville (Skadi)
  • Lucy Greville (Skadi)
  • Robert Pigot (Itma)
  • Thomas Scott (Itma)
  • Hugh Doherty (Xanaboo)
  • Thomas Scott (Itma)
  • Samuel Mabey (Rumbleflurg)
  • RichardPalmer (Jangada)
  • Jeremy Waitt (Jangada)
  • James Gasper (Emily of Cowes)
  • Brett Aarons (Tala)
  • Cameron Davis (Espresso Martini Too)
  • Christopher James (Skadi)
  • Thomas Dawson (Redshift)
  • Ed Fishwick (Redshift)
  • Nick Joyce (Redshift)
  • James Oxenham (Xanaboo)
  • Sam Smith (Xanaboo)
  • Stuart Greenfield (Morning After)
  • Olivia Finch (Lady J of Cowes)
  • Wendy Phillis-Bailey (Lady J of Cowes)
  • Shirley Robertson (Swell)
  • Kelvin Rawlings (Aries)
  • Brian Thompson (Argo)
  • Marshall Bailey (Lady J of Cowes)
  • Jonny Malbon (Allegra)
  • Derek Saunders (Incisor)
  • Oscar Cordon (Darkwood)

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