The 2025 Rolex Fastnet Race will begin from Cowes on Saturday (26th July), with Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal confirmed to officially start the race, marking a century since the first Fastnet and the founding of the Royal Ocean Racing Club.
It has been revealed that for the first start at 12 noon, Princess Anne will have her finger on the button to send the competitors on their way for the 695-mile race to Cherbourg-en-Cotentin, France.
Her Royal Highness will also start the Admiral’s Cup class, as these boats and crews compete in the last race of this year’s Admiral’s Cup series, which is organised by the RORC
Last Saturday (19th) saw the first race of the series with an almost 24-hour race from Cowes across the English Channel and back. There were light winds at the start, but conditions changed and day and night sailing proved a good test for boats and crews. First boat back and across the line in Cowes, just after 06:00, was ‘Ran’.
Prior to that, the Admiral’s Cup 2025 was launched with a press conference on Friday. Hosted by Olympic Gold Medal holder, Shirley Robertson. The panel consisted of some of the World’s top sailors.
With an overall excitement of the Cup coming back to Cowes after 22 years, there were a number of panellists who had sailed in previous cups or those who had got into sailing after experiencing the cups of the 1970s through to the 1990s.
Shirley Robertson led the session, with a warm welcome from RORC Commodore Deb Fish. 12 World-class sailors, each representing top international teams, shared their insights and stories and offered a glimpse into the fierce competition to come and the renewed prestige of the Admiral’s Cup.
Pierre Casiraghi – Jolt 6 / Yacht Club de Monaco said:
“We’ve taken the Admiral’s Cup very seriously – it’s a prestigious event with a rich history, and we’ve done everything possible to prepare.”
Mike Sanderson – Callisto / Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron:
“The Admiral’s Cup holds a legendary place in New Zealand sailing – right up there with the Olympics, the America’s Cup, and the Whitbread.. Growing up, it was one of the pinnacles. In the early 1980s, we had 30 boats trialling in Auckland just to qualify.”
Abby Ehler – Black Pearl / New York Yacht Club, USA:
“It’s fantastic to be here representing the New York Yacht Club at such a prestigious and historic event.”.
Vasco Vascotto – Django WR51 / Yacht Club Costa Smeralda, Italy:
“This event is about more than just racing, it’s about honouring this Cup. The Cup is the true star and we’re here as the supporting cast to put on the best show possible, because this trophy deserves it. “
Ian Walker – Privateer / Royal Irish Yacht Club:
“I remember the Admiral’s Cup vividly from my youth – watching the results update live at the finish line in Cowes during the Channel Race and thinking, one day, I want to be part of that. I’ve raced in the last three editions, though that was over 20 years ago, so it’s incredibly special to return”
Gerd-Jan Poortman – ROST Van Uden / Dutch Offshore Sailing Team:
“We’re proud to be here with a Dutch youth team – a group of top sailing talent selected every three years and trained for this kind of moment. Normally, our projects finish with a European or World Championship, but this time, it’s the Admiral’s Cup”
Chris Frost – AMP-lifi / RORC White:
“We’ve teamed up with Final Final, the PAC 52 formerly known as Warrior One. It’s a proven offshore machine – RORC Transatlantic winner and second in the last Fastnet.”
Eric de Turckheim – Teasing Machine / Yacht Club de France:
“The Admiral’s Cup was a dream for me as a young sailor. In the 1970s, sailing offshore here in my early 20s, it was the event. I vividly remember the energy in Cowes.”As RORC’s former Head of Programme and Race, reviving the Admiral’s Cup was a priority for several reasons. Offshore racing was thriving; look at the growth of the Fastnet Race, but we needed something to bring top international teams back to Cowes,”
Moriz ‘Momo’ Forster – Red Bandit / Bayerischer Yacht Club, Germany:
“Of course, the conditions here are a world away from our Bavarian lake. Getting used to strong currents and tides is a steep learning curve, and preparing a boat for inshore, coastal, and offshore racing all at once is a serious challenge. But that’s exactly why we’re here.”
Per Roman – GARM / RORC Red:
“The Admiral’s Cup is the pinnacle of offshore sailing and it’s incredibly special for us to be part of its return. It’s a privilege to race under the RORC Red banner and we feel a deep responsibility to represent the Club with pride. We’ve built a great team on Garm .”
Gordon Maguire – Back to Black / Cruising Yacht Club of Australia:
“In Australia, there’s a real buzz. People remember staying up late to follow the Admiral’s Cup results in newspapers, radio reports, etc and there was a sense of national pride. And now it’s back, people are genuinely excited. For us, representing the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia and taking part in something so rich in history is incredibly special.”
Gavin Brady – Beau Geste / Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club:
“The competition is fierce, and yes, it’s going to get feisty. But that’s what makes the Admiral’s Cup so unique. Everyone’s here for the same reason: to test themselves against the very best.”
Over 400 other boats will join the ‘cuppers’ for the Rolex Fastnet Race. There are a series of starts for the various classes.
It is a spectacular event to watch from Cowes Parade or Island shores between Cowes and the Needles.
