(08-14-2007) - Cowes, Isle of Wight, England (August 13, 2007) -- After a 25-hour weather delay, 271 boats set off Monday from the Squadron line in Cowes for the start of 46th edition of the 608-mile Rolex Fastnet Race. It was a picture-perfect day with blue skies and puffy cumulus clouds, and little sign of the severe weather that is forecast ahead. The IMOCA 60 class was first off at 1100 BST, followed by six more classes as the 15 -18 knot breeze and a four knot ebb tide produced a short choppy sea.
First out past the Needles was the IMOCA 60 fleet, with the Alex Thompson-skippered, Hugo Boss leading, followed by PRB and Cheminees Poujoulat. Onboard PRB, the cameraman was struck in the head by the boom and sustained a laceration; as a precaution, he was taken off the boat. Best estimates put the leading boats approaching the Lizard around midnight Monday, and with the current weather forecast they could be at the Fastnet Rock by mid-morning. At press time, 11 boats have retired. New this year for the Rolex Fastnet is the OC Tracker system, which is capable of reporting a boat's position, speed, and course at pre-determined intervals, and is programmable remotely. -- Full report:
http://fastnet.rorc.org/container.asp?id=8176
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