Skorpios takes line honours in Cherbourg.
Dmitry Rybolovlev’s ClubSwan 125 Skorpios took line honours in the Rolex Fastnet Race, completing the 695nm course in 2 days, 8 hours, 35 minutes and 5 seconds © Paul Wyeth/pwpictures.com
Dmitry Rybolovlev’s ClubSwan 125 Skorpios took line honours in the Rolex Fastnet Race this evening, after crossing the finish line in Cherbourg at 2015 BST. Their total elapsed time for completing the 695 nautical mile course from Cowes to Cherbourg was 2 days, 8 hours, 35 minutes and 5 seconds.
Competing in her first offshore race, the recently launched Skorpios came through a brutal first 12 hours of the race in good shape. As the breeze softened, Skorpios extended away from her chief rivals for line honours including previous winner George David’s Rambler 88 and the strong IMOCA fleet.
Having only started sailing in the last few years, this was owner Dmitry Rybolovlev’s first offshore race which he experienced with his daughter Anna Rybolovleva, also her first time offshore racing. “We’re very pleased with the boat, the team was great. We want to thank the whole team for such great efforts. We were trying to stay conservative, especially in the high wind at the start, but we’re excited to see what the boat can do in future races. Rounding the Fastnet Rock was kind of magical, it felt like a really special moment.”
Skipper Fernando Echavarri was relieved to have come through the Rolex Fastnet Race with the boat intact. “The boat is very strong, we backed off on speed coming out of the Solent, but so was everyone else,” said the Spanish professional. “We had an idea of what the boat might be able to do, but we didn’t know for sure, so we learned a lot on this race.
“The owner is super happy, he’s a good sailor but new to offshore sailing and he enjoyed the experience a lot. I think there is a very good chance we will be back for the Rolex Fastnet Race.”
Finishing at 1522 BST on Tuesday afternoon, was the on-the-water leader in the MOCRA class – American Jason Carroll’s MOD 70 trimaran Argo, which sailed a relatively lonely race after Giovanni Soldini’s near sistership Maserati retired after her exploded winch.
“The start in 27 knots was spectacular, but everyone pulled off a good port tack start and was safe, which was good,” recounted Argo’s British multihull legend, Brian Thompson. “It was pretty bumpy out there and great racing. We were alongside for Sodebo for a little while and obviously alongside Maserati for a really long time, all through the day. It was sad to see them having to retire.”
Thompson said that Argo’s rounding of the Fastnet Rock was the best of his many, many roundings, both in this race, other races and his record attempts.
“It was such clear skies and a pleasant 10 knot breeze. The sun was shining, it was warm: It was Mediterranean sailing on the south coast of Ireland.”
Argo is the first boat in the fleet to take the longer route around the North of the Casquets TSS en route to the Cherbourg fin
Dmitry Rybolovlev’s ClubSwan 125 Skorpios took line honours in the Rolex Fastnet Race, completing the 695nm course in 2 days, 8 hours, 35 minutes and 5 seconds © Paul Wyeth/pwpictures.com
Dmitry Rybolovlev’s ClubSwan 125 Skorpios took line honours in the Rolex Fastnet Race this evening, after crossing the finish line in Cherbourg at 2015 BST. Their total elapsed time for completing the 695 nautical mile course from Cowes to Cherbourg was 2 days, 8 hours, 35 minutes and 5 seconds.
Competing in her first offshore race, the recently launched Skorpios came through a brutal first 12 hours of the race in good shape. As the breeze softened, Skorpios extended away from her chief rivals for line honours including previous winner George David’s Rambler 88 and the strong IMOCA fleet.
Having only started sailing in the last few years, this was owner Dmitry Rybolovlev’s first offshore race which he experienced with his daughter Anna Rybolovleva, also her first time offshore racing. “We’re very pleased with the boat, the team was great. We want to thank the whole team for such great efforts. We were trying to stay conservative, especially in the high wind at the start, but we’re excited to see what the boat can do in future races. Rounding the Fastnet Rock was kind of magical, it felt like a really special moment.”
Skipper Fernando Echavarri was relieved to have come through the Rolex Fastnet Race with the boat intact. “The boat is very strong, we backed off on speed coming out of the Solent, but so was everyone else,” said the Spanish professional. “We had an idea of what the boat might be able to do, but we didn’t know for sure, so we learned a lot on this race.
“The owner is super happy, he’s a good sailor but new to offshore sailing and he enjoyed the experience a lot. I think there is a very good chance we will be back for the Rolex Fastnet Race.”
Finishing at 1522 BST on Tuesday afternoon, was the on-the-water leader in the MOCRA class – American Jason Carroll’s MOD 70 trimaran Argo, which sailed a relatively lonely race after Giovanni Soldini’s near sistership Maserati retired after her exploded winch.
“The start in 27 knots was spectacular, but everyone pulled off a good port tack start and was safe, which was good,” recounted Argo’s British multihull legend, Brian Thompson. “It was pretty bumpy out there and great racing. We were alongside for Sodebo for a little while and obviously alongside Maserati for a really long time, all through the day. It was sad to see them having to retire.”
Thompson said that Argo’s rounding of the Fastnet Rock was the best of his many, many roundings, both in this race, other races and his record attempts.
“It was such clear skies and a pleasant 10 knot breeze. The sun was shining, it was warm: It was Mediterranean sailing on the south coast of Ireland.”
Argo is the first boat in the fleet to take the longer route around the North of the Casquets TSS en route to the Cherbourg fin
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