The Royal Ocean Racing Club's new race entry system has been burning red hot since 1200 UTC today when registration opened for the 50th edition of the club's flagship event, the Rolex Fastnet Race.
By 1300 entries were up to 433, with 300 signing up via the RORC's new SailRaceHQ entry system in the first ten minutes and 400 within 30 minutes.
As usual the biggest contingent among those registered was from the UK with 166 signed up, followed by France with 118. Yachts ranged in size from a 6.5m Classe Mini to several at 9m, to Lucky, the former Rambler 88, American George David's serial monohull line honours winner, now in the hands of Bryon Ehrhart. The longest was the first Ultim entry, the 30m trimaran Banque Populaire skippered by 2016-17 Vendée Globe winner Armel le Cleac'h.
"We're delighted by the response. It's especially good to see so many old friends and regular participants who seem to be making an extra effort to join us for the special 50th edition Rolex Fastnet Race," said the RORC's newly appointed Racing Manager and Race Director Steve Cole.
"Obviously from here, yachts still need to qualify and log the required number of race miles. But it seems highly likely that when the remaining RORC members and the pro classes have signed up by April, we will top 500 boats which should translate into a record turn-out come start day in July."
For further information, please go to the Rolex Fastnet Race website: www.rolexfastnetrace.com
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