Grand Rhino is ready to race the iconic Rolex Fastnet Race

On July 26th, Grand Rhino will take the start of one of the most iconic races on the Class40 calendar: the Rolex Fastnet Race. A 695-nautical mile course from Cowes to the legendary Fastnet Rock and finishing in Cherbourg.

This race is historically known for strong winds and powerful currents. In the last edition of the Mini Fastnet, the wind took a while to arrive and the currents created an especially complex and interesting race course. We’ll see what happens with the bigger boats, as the weather forecast, for now, remains rather unpredictable.

In this edition, the race will be sailed in a four-person team format. Aina Bauza and Axel Piallin will be joined by Robin Follin—trained in match racing, with experience in the Solitaire du Figaro and other major regattas—and Jules Bonnier, a seasoned sailor and regular on major Atlantic crossings such as the Route du Rhum, Québec–St. Malo and the Transat Jacques Vabre. A team that promises to put up a good fight.

The Class40 is an offshore sailing class designed for ocean racing, with 12.18-metre boats built to be fast and robust—almost twice the size of the Mini 6.50 class—and a stepping stone to bigger classes like the IMOCA. Over the last few years, Class40 has grown rapidly, bringing together professional and amateur sailors from all over the world in demanding competitions like the Route du Rhum or this very Fastnet. This race will, in fact, serve as an important training for the team ahead of the upcoming Transat Café l’Or this October.

Depending on the weather conditions, the race is expected to last around five days—intense and exciting—which you can follow on social media via @ainasailing and @cap_pour_elles.